B 


is 


c?7;h^2.^' 


MEMOIRS 


WILLIAM  AND  NATHAN  HUNT, 


TAKEN    CHIEFLY   PROM 


THEIE  JOUENALS  AND  LETTERS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

URIAH  HUNT  &  SON,  62  N.  FOURTH  ST. 

LONDON: 

ALFRED  W,  BENNETT,  No.  5  BISIIOPSGATE  STREET  WITHOUT 

1858. 


CONTENTS, 


PAGE 

A  Testimony  from   Newcastle  Monthly  Meeting,  in 

Great  Britain,  concerning  William  Hunt 5 

Character  of  William  Hunt,  by  Amos  Kersey 13 

Memoirs   of  William   Hunt,    by   the  late  Editor  of 

Friends' Review 17 

His  First  Religious  Journeys 25 

Visit  to  Friends  on  Pedee  River 36 

Visit  to  Friends  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania, 

and  New  Jersey 38 

Visit  to  Virginia,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jer- 
sey, New  York,  and  New  England 61 

Visit  to  Friends  in  Europe C8 

Letters  of  AVilliam  Hunt  to  Various  Individuals: — 

To  Uriah  Woolman 83 

Zachariaa  Dicks 94 

Eleazar  Hunt 97 

Rachel  Mills  and  Sarah  Thatcher. 100 

Thomas  Thornburgh,  Sen 102 

His  Children 107 


4  CONTENTS. 


PAQE 


An  Epistle  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders   of  New  Garden,  Guilford  County,   North 

Carolina 113 

Letter  to  William  Stanley 117 

David  Brooks 121 

Margaret  Beals  and  Hannah  Kersey 127 

A  Few  Words  of  Margaret  Beals  in  Remembrance  of 

her  Brother,  William  Hunt 130 

Letters  of  WilHam  Hunt  to  his  Wife 132 

Esther  Tuke's  Letter  to  William  Hunt's  Children 152 

Lines  to  the  Memory  of  Samuel  Fothergill,  William 

Hunt,  and  John  Woolman...... 150 


A   TESTIMOISTY 


NEWCASTLE  MONTHLY  MEETING  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN 


CONCERNINa 


WILLIAM  HUNT. 


Our  dear  Friend  William  Hunt,  of  New 
Garden,  in  Guilford  county,  ITortli  Caro- 
lina, accompanied  by  his  nephew,  Thomas 
Thornburgh,  of  the  same  place,  being  on 
a  religious  visit  to  Friends  of  this  nation, 
departed  this  life  at  the  house  of  a  Friend 
near  l^ewcastle-upon-Tyne.  The  deep  re- 
gard we  bear  to  his  memory  and  eminent 
services  engageth  us  to  transmit  the  follow- 
ing testimony  concerning  him. 
•  They  arrived  in  London  about  a  week 
after  the  Yearly  Meeting,  1771,  and,  attend- 


6  A   TESTIMONY 

ing  several  meetings  in  that  city,  proceeded 
northward,  visiting  Friends  in  divers  coun- 
ties in  England,  and  also  in  Scotland.  The 
ensuing  winter  was  spent  in  visiting  York- 
shire, Lancashire,  and  Ireland,  returning  to 
London  in  time  to  attend  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing there  in  1772,  then  attending  the  Yearly 
Meetings  in  Essex,  Suffolk,  and  IlTorfolk, 
and,  proceeding  through  Lincolnshire  to 
Hull,  they  took  shipping  for  Holland,  and, 
after  visiting  the  few  Friends  there,  they 
embarked  for  Scarborough,  but,  by  contrary 
winds,  landed  at  Shields  the  25th  of  the 
eighth  month,  and,  after  being  at  their 
meeting  on  the  26th,  came  that  afternoon 
to  the  house  of  a  Friend  near  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne. 

From  accounts  received,  and  our  own 
knowledge  of  his  conduct  and  ministry,  we 
have  good  cause  to  believe  that  in  all  his 
travels  in  Europe  he  behaved  as  a  faithful 
minister  of  Christ,  exemplary  and  uniform 
in  conduct,  of  a  weighty  deportment  and 


CONCERNING   WILLIAM   HUNT.  7 

retired  spirit;  his  conversation  was  grave 
and  instructive,  seasoned  with  love  and 
sweetness,  which  rendered  his  company 
both  profitable  and  desirable;  his  ministry 
was  living  and  powerful,  deep  and  search- 
ing, an  excellent  example  in  patiently  wait- 
ing for  the  clear  manifestation  of  the 
Divine  will,  and  careful  to  move  accord- 
ingly, so  that  his  appearances  in  meetings 
were  mostly  accompanied  with  great  so- 
lemnity, in  which  he  skilfully  divided  the 
word,  being  to  the  unfaithful  as  a  two- 
edged  sword,  but  to  the  honest-hearted  tra- 
vellers in  Zion,  and  to  such  as  were  seeking 
the  way  to  God's  kingdom,  his  doctrine 
was  truly  refreshing.  He  was  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  quick  of  apprehension, 
and  deep  in  religious  experience;  and 
although  he  was  only  in  the  thirty-ninth 
year  of  his  age,  yet  such  was  his  experience 
and  stability,  that  he  stood  as  an  elder  and 
a  father  in  the  church,  worthy  of  double 
honour. 


8  A   TESTIMONY 

He  attended  the  meeting  at  Newcastle  on 
the  27th  of  the  eighth  month,  17T2,  in 
which  he  delivered  a  short  and  living  testi- 
mony in  the  love  of  the  gospel  to  his  friends 
of  that  place.  That  afternoon  he  was  cheer- 
ful, and  expressed  his  satisfaction  in  being 
there,  and  upon  being  asked  what  place 
they  intended  for  next,  he  replied  he  saw 
no  further  at  present  than  N"ewcastle.  N"ext 
day  he  was  taken  ill,  which  was  not  appre- 
hended to  be  the  smallpox  until  the  fourth 
day  of  his  illness.  When  the  eruption  ap- 
peared he  said  to  his  companion,  "This 
sickness  is  nigh  unto  death,  if  not  quite." 
His  companion  signified  his  hope  that  it 
might  not  be  so.  He  replied,  "  My  coming 
hither  seems  to  be  providential,  and  when 
I  wait  I  am  enclosed  and  see  no  further." 
At  another  time  he  made  the  same  remark 
to  a  Friend,  saying,  "  It  will  be  a  sore  trial  to 
my  companion  if  I  am  now  removed."  He 
also  mentioned  in  an  affectionate  manner 
his  dear  wife  and  children  to  a  Friend  who 


CONCERNING    WILLIAM    HUNT.  0 

attended  him,  and  requested  some  counsel 
and  advice  (which  he  then  communicated) 
might  be  transmitted  to  them,  if  it  should 
please  the  Lord  to  remove  him,  which  was 
accordingly  done. 

On  the  third  day  of  his  illness  two  Friends 
from  the  country  came  to  visit  him,  to 
whom  he  thus  expressed  himself,  viz. :  "  I 
liave  longed  to  see  you  and  be  with  you, 
but  was  put  by."  One  of  them  said,  "I 
hope  we  shall  have  thee  with  us  yet."  He 
answered,  "  That  must  be  left."  The  Friend 
said  that  whatever  affliction  we  are  tried 
with  we  may  yet  see  cause  of  thankfulness. 
He  replied,  "  Great  cause  indeed ;  I  never 
saw  it  clearer ;  oh  the  wisdom  !  the  wisdom 
and  goodness,  the  mercy  and  kindness,  has 
appeared  to  me  wonderful,  and  the  further 
and  deeper  we  go  the  more  we  wonder ;  I 
have  admired,  since  I  was  cast  upon  this 
bed,  that  all  the  world  does  not  seek  after 
the  truth,  it  so  far  transcends  all  other 
things."     Two  Friends  from  Northumber- 


10  A   TESTIMONY 

land  coming  to  visit  him,  he  said,  "The 
Lord  knows  how  I  have  loved  you  from  our 
first  acquaintance,  and  longed  for  your 
growth  and  establishment  in  the  blessed 
truth,  and  now  I  feel  the  same  renewed 
afresh;"  and  said,  "He  much  desired  they 
might  fill  up  the  places  Providence  in- 
tended, and  lay  up  treasure  in  heaven," 
adding,  "What  would  a  thousand  worlds 
avail  me  now?" 

The  disorder  was  very  heavy  upon  him, 
having  a  load  of  eruption,  under  which  he 
showed  great  fortitude  and  patience,  even 
to  the  admiration  of  the  physician  and  sur- 
geon who  attended  him,  his  mind  being 
mercifully  preserved  calm  and  resigned  to 
his  Master's  will,  whose  presence  he  found 
to  be  near  him  in  the  needful  time,  saying, 
"It  is  enough,  my  Master  is  here;"  and 
again,  "  He  that  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
mountains  knows  this ;  if  it  pleases  Him  he 
can  remove  it."  At  another  time  he  said, 
with  great  composure,  "The  Lord  knows 


CONCERNING   WILLIAM  HUNT.  11 

best ;  I  am  in  his  hands,  let  him  do  what 
he  pleases." 

Perceiving  a  Friend  to  be  diligent  and 
attentive  to  do  what  she  could  for  him,  he 
said,  "  The  Lord  refresh  thy  spirit,  for  thou 
hast  often  refreshed  this  body,  and,  whether 
I  live  or  die,  thou  wilt  get  thy  reward." 

After  the  second  fever  came  on,  finding 
himself  worse,  he  said,  "  My  life  hangs 
upon  a  thread."  The  doctor  being  sent  for, 
he  said,  "  They  are  all  physicians  of  no 
value  without  the  great  Physician."  A 
Friend  said,  "  I  know  thy  dependence  is  on 
him;"  he  answered,  "Entirely."  Under- 
standing that  two  Friends  who  had  sat  much 
by  him  did  not  intend  to  leave  him  that 
night,  he  very  sweetly  said,  "And  will  you 
watch  with  me  one  night  more  ?" 

On  being  asked  how  he  did,  he  said,  "  I 
am  here  pent  up  and  confined  in  a  narrow 
compass;  this  is  a  trying  time,  but  my 
mind  is  above  it  all ;"  which  was  evident  to 
those  about  him,   who   were    sensible  of 


12  A   TESTIMONY. 

praises  and  sweet  melody  in  his  heart  when 
few  words  were  expressed. 

A  little  before  he  died  he  said,  triumph- 
antly, "Friends,  truth  is  over  all;"  so  in 
great  peace  departed  this  life,  the  9th  day 
of  the  ninth  month,  1772,  and  was  interred 
in  Friends*  burying-ground  in  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne,  the  11th  of  the  same  month, 
accompanied  by  many  Friends,  upon  which 
occasion  a  solemn  meeting  was  held,  and 
divers  testimonies  borne  to  the  truth,  in  the 
service  of  which  he  lived  and  died,  an 
example  to  many  brethren.  A  minister 
twenty-four  years. 


CHARACTER 

OF 

WILLIAM   HUNT. 

BY  AMOS  KERSEY. 


He  was  of  a  reddish-fair  complexion  ;  his 
countenance  serious,  composed,  and  solid; 
of  a  middle-sized  stature,  and  pretty  big- 
bodied,  yet  very  moderate  in  meat  and 
drink ;  neither  did  he  yield  much  to  sleep, 
being  diligent  in  business  and  fervent  in 
spirit;  of  whom  I  think  it  may  truly  be 
said  as  it  was  of  George  Fox  formerly, 
viz. :  "  He  was  indeed  an  heavenly-minded 
man,  zealous  for  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and 
preferred  the    honour  of   God  before  all 

13 


14  CHARACTER   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

tilings.  He  was  valiant  for  the  truth,  bold 
m  asserting  it,  patient  in  suffering  for  it, 
unwearied  in  labouring  in  it,  steady  in  his 
testimony  to  it;  immovable  as  a  rock. 
Deep  he  was  in  divine  knowledge,  clear 
in  opening  heavenly  mysteries,  plain  and 
powerful  in  preaching,  fervent  in  prayer. 
He  was  richly  endued  with  heavenly  wis- 
dom, quick  in  discerning,  sound  in  judg- 
ment, able  and  ready  in  giving,  discreet  in 
keeping  counsel,  a  lover  of  righteousness, 
an  encourager  of  virtue,  justice,  temperance, 
meekness,  purity,  chastity,  modesty,  humi- 
lity, charity,  and  self-denial  in  all,  both  by 
word  and  example.  Graceful  he  was  in 
countenance,  manly  in  personage,  grave  in 
gesture,  courteous  in  conversation,  weighty 
in  communication,  instructive  in  discourse, 
free  from  affectation  in  speech  or  carriage ; 
a  severe  reprover  of  hard  and  obstinate 
sinners ;  a  mild  and  gentle  admonisher  of 
such  as  were  tender  and  sensible  of  their 
failings;  not  apt  to  resent  personal  wrongs; 


CHARACTER   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  15 

easy  to  forgive  injuries,  but  zealously 
earnest  where  the  honour  of  God,  the  pros- 
perity of  truth,  or  the  peace  of  the  church 
were  concerned.  Very  tender,  compassionate, 
and  pitiful  he  was  to  all  that  were  under 
any  sort  of  affliction ;  full  of  brotherly  love, 
full  of  fatherly  care ;  for  indeed  the  care  of 
the  churches  of  Christ  was  daily  upon  him, 
the  prosperity  and  peace  whereof  he  studi- 
ously sought ;  for  whom  this  testimony  lives 
in  my  heart.  He  lived  and  died  the  ser- 
vant of  the  Lord."  A.  K. 

New  Garden,  13th  of  10th  mo.,  1779. 


MEMOIRS 


WILLIAM   HUNT. 


BY  THE  LATE  EDITOR  OF  THE  FRIENDS'  REVIEW. 
(ENOCH  LEWIS.) 


Gather  up  the  fragments,  that  nothing  be  lost.'' 


A  MANUSCRIPT  has  been  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  editor,  bearing  evident  marks 
of  age,  which  consists  partly  of  autograph 
narratives  of  several  journeys,  in  the  service 
of  the  gospel,  performed  by  this  eminent 
and  devoted  minister,  and  partly  of  letters 
addressed  by  him  to  divers  of  his  friends. 
As  permission  has  been  given  to  extract 
such  portions  as  may  be  judged  eligible  for 
the  Review,  a  brief  notice  of  the  life  and 
character  of  the  man  may  probably  be,  to 

2  17 


18  MEMOIRS   OF  WILLIAM   HUNT. 

some  of  our  readers,  an  acceptable  intro- 
duction. 

The  materials  for  such  a  notice  are  in- 
deed very  scanty,  and  as  more  than  three- 
quarters  of  a  century  have  passed  since  his 
decease,  we  can  hardly  suppose  that  much 
can  now  be  gleaned  from  the  reminiscences 
of  his  friends  or  numerous  descendants. 

His  residence  during  his  maturer  life  was 
in  Guilford  county,  ]!!Torth  Carolina;  but 
it  appears  that  he  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  born  about  the  year  1733. 
It  is  known  that  a  number  of  emigrants 
from  the  southern  part  of  Pennsylvania  re- 
moved to  [N'orth  Carolina  many  years  ago, 
and  that  New  Garden,  in  Guilford  county, 
where  he  resided,  received  its  name  from  a 
township  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Whether  the  parents  of  William  Hunt  were 
among  the  number  is  uncertain. 

This  valuable  Friend  became  an  orphan 
at  an  early  age,  for  his  father  died  when  he 
was  about  twelve  years  old,  and  his  mother 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT.  19 

at  a  still  earlier  period.  We  find  that  he 
was  visited  with  tendering  impressions 
when  not  more  than  eight  years  of  age, 
though  he  did  not  then  understand  from 
whence  they  came ;  but  after  the  death  of 
his  father  he  was  given  to  see  that  it  was 
the  Spirit  of  truth  which  had  thus  visited 
and  tendered  his  mind ;  and  so  effectually 
was  the  Divine  hand  laid  upon  him  that  his 
mouth  was  opened  in  the  ministry  before 
he  had  completed  his  fifteenth  yjear.  By  a 
careful  attention  to  the  openings  and  lead- 
ings of  the  light  of  Christ,  he  became  an 
able  minister  of  the  gospel,  rightly  dividing 
the  word,  to  the  great  edification  of  the 
churches  among  which  his  lot  was  cast. 
His  travels  in  the  service  of  the  gospel  were 
commenced  as  early  as  his  twentieth  year, 
and  during  his  Christian  progress  he  visited 
all  the  E'orth  American  provinces,  and 
nearly  all  the  meetings  they  contained.  He 
also  frequently  appointed  meetings  where 
none  were  usually  held.     Though  he  had  a 


20  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT. 

large  family  in  great  measure  dependent 
upon  his  industrj'  and  care,  yet,  when  called 
by  a  conviction  of  religious  duty,  he  cheer- 
fully resigned  them  and  his  worldly  con- 
cerns to  the  protection  of  his  bountiful 
Master,  upon  whose  guardianship  he  had 
been  taught  to  rely. 

In  the  year  1771,  he,  in  company  with  his 
nephew,  Thomas  Thornburgh,  arrived  at 
London  on  a  visit  to  the  churches  in  that 
nation.  Jhe  Yearly  Meeting  of  London 
had  come  to  a  close  a  few  days  before  their 
arrival,  and  during  the  ensuing  year  they 
visited  many  parts  of  England,  Scotland, 
and  Ireland.  After  attending  the  Yearly 
Meeting  at  London  in  1772,  and  passing 
through  several  parts  of  the  island,  they 
embarked  for  Holland,  and,  after  visiting 
the  few^  Friends  in  that  country,  took 
shipping  again  for  England.  They  were 
not  permitted,  in  consequence  of  contrary 
winds,  to  reach  their  intended  port,  but 
came  to  land  in  the  neisrhbourhood  of  New- 


MEMOIllS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT.  21 

castle-upon-Tyne.  He  attended  one  meet- 
ing in  that  place,  in  whicli  he  delivered  a 
short  and  living  testimony  in  the  love  of 
the  gospel.  In  the  afternoon  he  appeared 
cheerful,  and  expressed  his  satisfaction  with 
being  there.  When  asked  respecting  his 
intended  procedure,  he  answered  that  he 
saw  no  further  at  present  than  N'ewcastle. 
On  the  next  day,  the  28th  of  eighth  month, 
1772,  he  was  attacked  by  a  disease  which 
proved  to  be  the  smallpox.  He  early  ex- 
pressed a  belief  that  his  sickness  would  be 
nigh  unto  death,  if  not  quite,  adding,  "  My 
coming  hither  seems  to  be  providential,  and 
when  I  wait  I  am  enclosed,  and  can  see  no 
further." 

He  endured  the  sufferings  unavoidably 
attending  on  this  afflictive  disease  with 
great  patience  and  fortitude,  to  the  admira- 
tion of  those  who  attended  upon  him,  mani- 
festing an  entire  resignation  to  Divine  dis- 
Ijosal.  At  one  time,  in  allusion  to  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  God,  he  exclaimed, 


22  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAxM   HUNT. 

''  Oh  the  wisdom  !  the  wisdom  and  goodness, 
the  mercy  and  kindness,  have  appeared  to 
me  wonderful,  and  the  further  and  deeper 
we  go,  the  more  we  wonder;  I  have  ad- 
mired, since  I  was  cast  on  this  bed,  that  all 
the  world  does  not  seek  after  the  truth,  it 
so  far  transcends  all  other  things."  About 
the  thirteenth  day  from  the  commencement 
of  his  illness,  he  quietly  and  peacefully 
passed  away  from  works  to  rewards.  Of 
his  character  and  ministry.  Friends  of  ISTew- 
castle  Monthly  Meeting,  where  he  died, 
gave  a  testimony,  from  which  the  following 
is  extracted : — 

"From  accounts  received,  and  our  own 
knowledge  of  his  conduct  and  ministry,  we 
have  good  cause  to  believe  that  in  all  his 
travels  in  Europe  he  behaved  as  a  faithful 
minister  of  Christ,  exemplary  and  uniform 
in  conduct,  of  a  weighty  deportment  and 
retired  spirit;  his  conversation  was  grave 
and  instructive,  seasoned  with  love  and 
sweetness,   which    rendered   his    company 


MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM   HUNT.  23 

both  profitable  and  desirable ;  his  ministry 
was  living  and  powerful,  deep  and  search- 
ing; an  excellent  example  in  patiently 
waiting  for  the  clear  manifestation  of  the 
Divine  will,  and  careful  to  move  accord- 
ingly, so  that  his  appearances  in  meetings 
were  mostly  accompanied  with  great  so- 
lemnity, in  which  he  skilfully  divided  the 
word,  being  to  the  unfaithful  as  a  two- 
edged  sword,  but  to  the  honest-hearted  tra- 
vellers in  Zion,  and  to  such  as  were  seeking 
the  way  to  God's  kingdom,  his  doctrine 
was  truly  refreshing.  He  was  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  quick  of  apprehension, 
and  deep  religious  experience ;  and  although 
he  was  only  in  the  thirty-ninth  year  of  his 
age,  yet  such  was  his  experience  and  sta- 
bility, that  he  stood  as  an  elder  and  a  father 
in  the  church,  worthy  of  double  honour." 

John  "Woolman,  who  was  in  England  on 
a  religious  visit  at  the  time  of  William 
Hunt's  decease,  and  who  was  also  removed 
a  few  weeks  afterwards  by  the  same  dis- 


24  MEMOIRS   OF  WILLIAM   HUNT. 

ease,  takes  the  following  notice  of  the 
event : — 

"  At  this  place  I  heard  that  my  kinsman, 
William  Hunt,  from  North  Carolina,  who 
was  on  a  religious  visit  to  Friends  in  Eng- 
land, departed  this  life  on  the  9th  day  of 
the  ninth  month,  instant,  of  the  smallpox, 
at  Newcastle.  He  appeared  in  the  ministry 
when  a  youth,  and  his  labours  therein  were 
of  good  savour.  He  travelled  much  in  that 
work  in  America.  I  once  heard  him  say, 
in  public  testimony,  that  his  concern  was, 
in  that  visit,  to  be  devoted  to  the  service  of 
Christ  so  fully  that  he  might  not  spend  one 
minute  in  pleasing  himself;  which  words, 
joined  with  his  example,  were  a  means  of 
stirring  up  the  pure  mind  in  me." 

It  is  within  the  memory  of  the  editor  that 
Thomas  Thornburgh,  the  nephew  of  Wil- 
liam Hunt,  who  accompanied  him  to  Europe, 
and  who  was  also  a  minister,  was  seized 
with  the  same  disease  (the  smallpox)  while 
returning    through    Pennsylvania    to    his 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT.  25 

place  of  residence,  from  a  religious  visit  to 
Friends  in  Europe,  and  was  removed  with- 
out reaching  home.  This  event  took  place 
in  or  about  the  year  1787. 

Of  the  earliest  journeys  of  this  valuable 
minister  in  the  service  of  the  gospel  very 
little  now  appears  to  be  known.  In  the 
former  part  of  the  manuscript  volume 
already  mentioned,  a  mutilated  account  of 
one  of  those  journeys  is  given:  the  be- 
ginning seems  to  have  been  lost,  and  the 
year  is  not  stated.  His  travels  are  said  to 
have  commenced  in  or  about  his  twentieth 
year.  The  parts  of  the  country  then  visited 
are  not  specified,  but  were  probably  in  Vir- 
ginia or  ]N"orth  Carolina. 

Of  a  meeting  at  a  private  house,  Thomas 
Moreman's,  where  it  does  not  appear  that 
one  was  usually  held,  the  following  account 
is  given,  from  which  it  is  obvious  that, 
young  as  he  was,  he  was  a  valiant  advocate 
of  the  cause  in  which  he  was  engaged : — 

"The    people    seemed    to    sit  down   in 


26  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   UUNT. 

awfulness  before  God;  the  meeting  began 
with  the  sweet  overflowing  of  the  pure  love 
of  God,  which  sprang  in  my  heart  to  the 
people;  but  after  we  had  sat  some  time 
there  came  a  great  cloud  of  darkness  over 
the  meeting,  and  at  length  a  man  named 
John  I^ewbury  rose  to  speak.  After  he 
sat  down  I  was  deeply  concerned  to  speak 
against  a  corrupt  ministry ;  and,  feeling 
sweet  love  in  my  heart  to  the  people,  in- 
vited them  to  the  voice  of  the  true  Shep- 
herd, that  was  to  be  heard  in  their  own 
hearts.  After  meeting,  John  E'ewbury 
came  to  us  in  a  contentious  spirit,  and 
spake  many  high-swelling  words,  and  went 
away  dissatisfied.  Blessed  be  God  for  ever- 
more, who  is  able  to  make  manifest  the 
works  of  darkness,  and  to  set  his  glorious 
power  over  all." 

As  we  have  no  intimation  that  any  con- 
troversy with  this  man  was  indulged,  we 
may  reasonably  infer  that  William  Hunt, 
having  endeavoured   to  perform  his  duty 


MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM   HUNT.  27 

with  fidelity  in  the  meeting,  afterwards, 
observing  the  modesty  which  a  young  man 
should  never  forget,  left  this  bewildered 
man  to  the  convictions  of  his  own  mind. 

He  next  proceeded  up  the  river — what 
river  is  not  explained — and  appointed  a 
meeting,  where  one  had  never  been  held 
before.  "This,"  he  remarks,  "was  a  solid 
good  meeting,  and  concluded  with  fervent 
prayer.  Blessed  be  the  Most  High,  who 
was  pleased  to  give  me  the  reward  of  true 
peace  and  solid  satisfaction  in  my  own 
mind,  which  caused  sweet  songs  of  joy  and 
endless  praise  to  spring  in  my  heart  unto 
the  everlasting  Being  who  had  brought  me 
through  many  a  deep  and  grievous  trial  in 
this  my  journey.  He  alone  is  over  all, 
blessed  in  himself  and  in  his  Son,  both  now 
and  for  evermore.     Amen." 

After  this  meeting,  William  Hunt  and 
his  companion,  William  Hoggatt,  w^ho  ap- 
pears to  have  borne  him  company  through- 
out this  journey,   set  out  towards   home. 


28  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT. 

Their  way  seems  to  have  been  through  the 
wilderness,  for  we  find  that  they  lodged  the 
two  following  nights  in  the  woods,  having 
ridden  on  one  of  those  days  about  forty 
miles.  This  kind  of  accommodation  would, 
in  our  day,  be  deemed  sufficiently  rough 
and  exposing  for  two  young  men  to  put  up 
with  ;  but  they  appear  to  have  had,  in  this 
wilderness  journey,  the  company  and  care 
of  two  female  Friends.  On  the  morning 
succeeding  their  second  night's  lodging  in 
the  woods,  he  mentions :  "  We  were  all  un- 
expectedly brought  down  in  pure  silence 
before  God,  and  were  renewedly  owned 
with  his  overcoming  love  shed  abroad  in 
our  hearts ;  blessed  be  his  worthy  name  for 
evermore." 

After  this  they  had  to  ride  about  twenty- 
six  miles,  probably  through  the  wilderness, 
when  they  found  a  lodging-place,  and  there 
parting  with  their  female  companions,  Abi- 
gail Pike  and  Martha  Thornton,  they  soon 
reached  home.     "It  being,"  he  says,  "the 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  29 

first  day  of  the  week,  I  went  to  meeting, 
where  I  met  with  my  dear  friends  in  the 
fulness  of  the  heavenly  Father's  love." 

Though  the  year  when  this  journey  was 
taken  is  not  clearly  designated,  we  infer 
that  it  was  previous  to  his  marriage,  for  he 
mentions  arriving  at  his  brother's,  but  says 
nothing  respecting  his  wife.  But  we  find 
that  in  the  fifth  month,  1754,  when  still  not 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  parted,  to  adopt 
his  own  language,  "  with  my  dear  wife  and 
friends,  in  great  love  and  tenderness  of  spi- 
rit, to  our  mutual  joy  and  comfort,"  to  visit 
the  meetings  of  Friends  in  North  Carolina 
and  Virginia.  The  first  object  appears  to 
have  been  the  attendance  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  to  which  he  belonged;  and  we 
may  form  an  imperfect  idea  of  the  toil 
encountered  by  Friends  of  that  day  and 
country  from  the  facts  noted  in  this  jour- 
ney. Besides  four  days'  travelling,  in 
which  the  distance  passed  over  is  not  stated, 
but  some  difiiculty  in  crossing  the  water  is 


30  MEMOIRS   OP  WILLIAM   HUNT. 

noted,  specific  distances,  amounting  to 
ninety-two  miles,  are  given.  And  this,  we 
observe,  was  to  attend  their  Quarterly 
Meeting. 

After  that  meeting,  which,  including  the 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  occupied 
three  days,  was  over,  William  Hunt  and 
his  companion,  John  Hoggatt,  proceeded  to 
visit  a  number  of  the  meetings  in  !N"orth 
Carolina.  Of  these  services  he  observes 
that  his  exercise  was  "generally  pretty 
close ;  but,  forever  praised  and  magnified  be 
the  worthy  name  of  the  most  high  God, 
he  was  pleased  at  times  to  set  his  blessed 
truth  over  all,  in  the  demonstration  of  the 
spirit  and  power  thereof,  to  our  mutual  joy 
and  comfort."  "It  often,"  says  he,  "fell 
to  my  lot  in  this  journey  to  be  baptized  for 
the  unfaithful  professors  of  the  truth,  who 
stood  in  the  form  and  not  in  the  life  and 
power  of  religion." 

Of  a  meeting  in  Virginia  he  remarks, 
"  The  Lord  was  pleased  in  this  meeting  to 


MEMOIRS   OP  WILLIAM   HUNT.  31 

set  his  precious  truth  over  all,  to  our  great 
joy  and  comfort.  There  were  many  profes- 
sors that  had  left  the  pure  life  of  religion, 
and  let  fall  the  spiritual  weapons  of  warfare, 
(whereby  our  worthy  ancients  were  enabled 
to  go  forth  against  spiritual  wickedness,) 
and  run  into  fleshly  liberty,  pomp,  pride, 
and  vain-glory,  having  shunned  the  cross, 
and  forsaken  the  way  laid  down  for  the 
redeemed  of  the  Lord  to  walk  in.  Against 
those  the  controversy  of  the  Lord  in  my 
heart  was  very  great;  and,  blessed  be  his 
worthy  name,  he  was  pleased  to  bear  up  my 
spirit  in  these  times  of  great  labour  and 
travail  of  spirit,  so  that  I  can  say,  by  a 
living  sense  of  his  Divine  goodness,  he  re- 
quires nothing  of  any  creature,  but  that  he 
gives  strength  according  to  the  day,  as  they 
stand  passive  in  his  will.  But  what  can  I 
say  ?  the  work  is  altogether  his  own,  there- 
fore to  him  belong  the  praise,  honour,  and 
glory  of  his  own  work,  who  is  pleased  to 
make  use  of  mean  and  foolish  instruments 


32  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM   HUNT. 

for  the  bringing  to  pass  thereof.  And  in 
retaliation  for  [commemoration  of]  his 
strength-renewing  hand  in  this  journey,  my 
soul  returns  humble  thanks  and  praise  [to 
him]  who  is  worthy  for  evermore." 

After  visiting  the  meetings  of  Friends  in 
various  parts  of  Virginia,  where  there  ap- 
pear to  have  been  a  considerable  number  of 
the  Society  located,  among  whom,  in  more 
instances  than  one,  he  commemorates  with 
gratitude  the  manifestation  of  the  Divine 
presence,  melting  their  hearts,  and  tender- 
ing their  spirits  before  him,  he  found,  as  he 
expresses  it,  "  the  motion  of  life  as  to  tra- 
velling cease;"  and  after  a  short  delay  pre- 
pared for  returning  home. 

He  was  then  at  a  place  called  Fort  Creek, 
and  he  says,  "  It  pleased  the  Divine  will  to 
move  on  the  minds  of  some  Friends  of  that 
place  to  come  and  see  us,  so  that  the 
Friends  of  that  meeting  generally  came,  and 
a  living  time  we  had  together.  The  healing 
waters  were  poured  forth,  to  the  joy  and 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  33 

consolation  of  the  poor  mourners  and  weary 
travellers,  and  many  burdened  souls  got 
ease ;  a  time,  I  believe,  not  to  be  forgotten 
by  many  while  we  have  a  day  to  live  in  this 
life.  "We  parted  next  morning  in  great 
love  and  brokenness  of  spirit,  feeling  the 
good  presence  of  the  Lord  therein.  The 
enemy  had  laboured  with  subtility  to  lay 
waste  the  heritage  of  God  in  that  place,  and 
caused  many  that  had  been  valiants  in  the 
Lamb's  war  to  faint,  and  to  let  fall  their  spi- 
ritual weapons,  to  the  great  grief  of  the 
faithful  seed.  With  those  my  soul  was 
often  deeply  engaged ;  and  blessed  forever 
be  that  ancient  arm  of  Divine  power,  who 
was  pleased  to  enable  me  to  go  through  it, 
for  the  weight  thereof  was  very  great,  and 
many  times  bowed  my  spirit  very  low.  Oh 
that  my  soul  with  the  living  may  always 
sing  sweet  praise  and  endless  glory  unto  the 
high  and  holy  King,  who  keeps  his  little 
ones  under  the  shadow  of  his  hand,  and 
gives  them  power  over  all  to  stand." 

8 


34  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

While  returning  through  Virginia,  he 
attended  a  meeting  among  the  few  Friends 
on  the  Appomatox  River,  of  which  he 
gives  the  following  account: — 

"It  was  a  close  and  exercising  meeting 
for  some  time.  The  enemy  had  raised  a 
monster  among  them,  who  pretended  to  be 
as  highly  inspired  as  any  of  the  apostles. 
I  having  never  heard  any  thing  of  it,  it 
caused  great  exercise  and  travail  of  spirit ; 
but  after  some  time  I  was  constrained  in  the 
power  of  the  Lord  to  bear  testimony  against 
that  spirit,  that  set  itself  above  the  pure 
witness  of  God,  and  caused  separation  and 
division  among  his  people.  Friends  were 
greatly  broken  in  spirit,  and  I  felt  sweet 
encouragement  spring  in  my  heart  to  the 
travailing  seed  of  God,  whose  souls  were 
greatly  bowed  down  in  pain  and  travail  of 
spirit ;  and  the  meeting  concluded  to  sweet 
satisfaction." 

This  journey  appears  to  have  occupied 
two   months  ;  and  in  reference  to  the  last 


MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  B5 

meeting  he  had  previous  to  his  arrival  at 
his  own  residence,  and  the  feelings  expe- 
rienced on  his  return  home,  he  remarks, 
^'  This  meeting  was  very  lively  and  power- 
ful ;  the  Lord's  good  presence  was  witnessed 
therein  to  our  joy  and  comfort;  forever 
praised  and  magnified  be  the  worthy  name 
of  the  most  high  God,  who  still  continued 
his  loving-kindness  to  my  poor  soul,  with 
the  signet-seal  of  his  eternal  Spirit.  Oh,  the 
effects  of  pure  peace  which  I  felt  on  my 
return  home  is  beyond  what  I  am  able  to 
express.  I  thought  it  was  a  full  reward  for 
all  my  various  trials  and  exercises,  though 
at  times  very  great." 

Only  about  seven  months  were  allotted  to 
the  cares  and  enjoyments  of  domestic  life, 
after  his  return  from  his  former  journey, 
before  this  devoted  servant  of  the  Most 
High  again  set  out  on  a  gospel  mission. 
His  dedication  and  religious  engagements 
must  appear  quite  remarkable  when  we  re- 
collect that  he  was  then  onlv  in  his  twenty- 


36  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

second  year.  The  prospect  was  a  visit  to 
Friends  on  the  Pedee  River.  This  jour- 
ney, like  the  previous  one,  was  in  consider- 
able part  through  a  wilderness,  for  on  the 
second  and  third  nights  he  and  his  compa- 
nions, being  four  in  all,  took  up  their  lodg- 
ing in  the  woods,  having  in  each  case  rid- 
den about  forty  miles  the  preceding  day. 
Of  this  journey  but  few  incidents  are  re- 
lated. The  small  number  of  Friends  who 
were  visited  appear  to  have  been  thinly 
scattered  over  the  country,  holding  their 
meetings  in  private  houses,  and  so  located 
that,  in  passing  from  one  settlement  to 
another,  a  night  was  occasionally  spent  in 
the  woods. 

In  one  place  he  mentions  having  a  meet- 
ing among  the  Baptists,  "wherein  truth 
was  exalted,  and  the  name  of  our  great 
Lord  and  Master  glorified.  We  taught 
them,"  he  says,  "by  example  more  than 
precept,  showing  them  the  true  worship 
which  stands  in  spirit   and  in  truth."     In 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT.  37 

these  brief  memoirs  we  have  evidence  that 
he  was  careful  to  regard  the  shutting  as 
well  as  the  opening  of  the  gospel  spring ;  for 
of  one  meeting,  which  seems  to  have  been 
among  Friends,  he  remarks,  "  This  was  the 
third  time  at  this  place  wherein  my  Master 
made  me  an  example  of  silence,  thereby 
directing  the  people  to  the  great  Searcher 
in  themselves."  But  at  others  he  was 
enabled  to  preach  the  gospel  in  the  demon- 
stration of  the  Spirit,  still  humbly  ascribing 
the  honour  and  praise  altogether  to  the  all- 
bountiful  Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect 
gift.  After  a  journey  of  something  less 
than  three  hundred  miles,  he  was  favoured 
to  reach  his  own  habitation  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  pure  and  solid  satisfaction. 

An  interval  of  a  little  more  than  six 
years  occurs  between  the  journey  last  men- 
tioned and  the  next  which  appears  on  the 
record. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  fifth  month,  1761, 
being  then  about  his  twenty-eighth  year,  he 


38  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

left  home  with  a  prospect  of  paying  a  reli- 
gious visit  to  Friends  in  Virginia,  Mary- 
land, Pennsylvania,  and  ]^ew  Jersey.  His 
companion  was  Bowater  Beales. 

After  attending  their  own  Quarterly 
Meeting  at  Cane  Creek,  which  lasted  three 
days,  they  took  a  solemn  leave  of  their 
wives,  who  had  accompanied  them  to  that 
meeting,  and  proceeded  on  their  journey. 
Some  portions  of  the  country  through  which 
they  passed  were  then  so  thinly  settled  that 
more  nights  than  one  were  passed  in  the 
Avoods.  In  the  narrative  which  is  preserved 
respecting  the  journey  we  find  these  gospel 
messengers  visiting  the  meetings  of  Friends 
in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  in  situations 
where  at  this  day  very  few,  if  any,  of  the 
Society  remain.  Among  these  William 
Hunt  evidently  appears  to  have  laboured 
diligently  and  faithfully,  frequently  having 
religious  opportunities  with  the  families 
where  they  lodged.  In  these  engagements, 
as  well  as  the  more  public  assemblies,  they 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT.  39 

were  favoured  with  many  refreshing  and 
strengthening  seasons.  The  frequent  ac- 
knowledgment of  Divine  support,  and  the 
general  evidence  running  through  the  nar- 
rative that  love  to  the  brethren  was  the 
clothing  of  his  spirit,  serve  to  impress  a 
conviction  on  the  minds  of  his  readers  that 
the  eminent  gifts  with  which  he  was  en- 
dowed were  received  and  exercised  with  a 
single  eye  to  the  glory  of  the  Giver  and  to 
the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  truth  and 
righteousness  in  the  earth.  He  was  par- 
ticularly careful  not  to  deck  himself  with 
his  Lord's  jewels,  or  to  assume  as  his  own 
what  he  knew  belonged  to  the  Dispenser  of 
every  gift. 

This  visit  appears  to  have  extended  to 
nearly  if  not  quite  all  those  parts  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  'New  Jersey  where  any  settle- 
ments of  Friends  had  then  been  formed. 

While  passing  through  the  interior  of 
Pennsylvania,  he  attended  a  meeting  which 
proved  an  exercising  one ;  and,  though  h^ 


40  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

found  bis  way  open  for  some  religious 
exercise,  it  did  not  appear  to  be  attended 
witb  tbe  same  evidence  of  Divine  life  wbich 
be  bad  sometimes  experienced.  He  tbere- 
fore  made  bis  communication  a  sbort  one ; 
and,  after  parting  witb  many  of  bis  friends 
''in  mucb  love  and  tenderness  of  spirit," 
be  proceeded  toward  a  place  wbere  be  ex- 
pected anotber  meeting  to  be  beld.  "But," 
says  be,  "  I  bad  not  gone  far  before  tbe 
accuser  of  tbe  bretbren  met  me  in  tbe  way, 
and,  being  but  low  and  dejected  before,  I 
cannot  express  tbe  situation  my  mind  was 
now  in.  It  seemed  to  me  tbat  tbe  bottom- 
less pit  from  beneatb  bad  opened  ber 
moutb,  and  witb  ber  bars  bad  encompassed 
me  about;  tbe  very  weeds  of  confusion 
were  wrapped  about  my  bead."  Tbe  fol- 
lowing nigbt  was  spent  "in  a  variety  of 
distressing  tbougbts,.  not  knowing  wbat 
would  be  tbe  end  of  tbis  combat.  I  brougbt 
tbings,"  be  remarked,  "to  tbe  nearest  in- 
spection I  was   capable  of,  but  could  not 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT.  41 

tind  that  I  stood  condemned  for  any  thing, 
unless  it  was  for  speaking  too  loud  and  too 
fast,  to  which  I  was  incident." 

From  this  remark  we  may  infer  that  he 
felt  a  secret  apprehension  that  he  some- 
times suffered  his  mind  to  partake  of  a  zeal 
and  excitement  which  did  not  arise  alto- 
gether from  the  true  gospel  fountain,  and 
that  his  ardour  may  have  partaken  in  some 
degree  of  a  warmth  arising  from  sparks  of 
his  own  kindling.  In  whatever  light  he 
viewed  his  own  manner  of  speaking,  the 
fear  here  intimated  shows  the  tenderness 
and  watchfulness  of  his  spirit. 

In  the  morning,  as  he  proceeded,  in 
company  with  several  of  his  friends,  toward 
the  place  where  a  meeting  was  expected  to 
he  held,  his  mind  was  painfully  exercised 
with  the  prospect,  as  he  expresses  it,  "of 
facing  a  meeting"  under  the  disconsolate 
feelings  which  attended  him.  "But,"  says 
he,  "  at  length,  through  the  great  goodness 
of  the  Almighty,  to  whom  all  powers  are 


42  MEMOIRS    OF    V/ILLIAM    HUNT. 

subject,  there  arose  a  pleasant  calm  over  my 
mind,  and  there  was  a  secret  intelligible 
voice  passed  through  my  heart,  'If  thou 
wilt  be  contented,  and  bear  all  things  just 
as  they  come,  my  presence  shall  be  with 
thee.'  Oh,  gracious  reviving  of  my  life. 
In  humble  dread  and  awful  fear.  If  thou 
wilt  preserve  me  from  dishonouring  thy 
name,  I  am  willing  to  endure  all  things 
that  may  come  upon  me,  for  thy  truth's 
sake." 

When  they  arrived  at  the  place  where  an 
appointed  meeting  was  expected,  they  found 
that,  by  some  oversight,  notice  had  not 
been  circulated,  and  William  Hunt  was  not 
subjected  to  the  necessity  of  facing  a  meet- 
ing there. 

The  Yearly  Meeting  of  Philadelphia  oc- 
curred while  he  was  on  this  visit,  which  he 
attended,  it  being  then  held  near  the  end  of 
the  ninth  month.  Of  that  meeting  he  re- 
marks, that  the  several  sittings  thereof 
were  owned  with  a  mighty  sense  of  truth, 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAxM    HUNT.  43 

and  the  business  was  transacted  with  much 
calmness  and  condescension.  In  some  of 
them  he  was  enabled,  through  gracious 
help,  to  declare  the  testimony  of  truth,  to 
his  own  satisfaction  and  that  of  his  friends. 
Having  a  number  of  relatives  at  that  meet- 
ing to  whom  he  was  closely  united,  he  had 
a  religious  opportunity,  at  the  house  where 
he  lodged,  with  them  and  others,  from 
whom,  at  the  close  of  the  Yearly  Meeting, 
lie  parted,  as  he  remarks,  "  with  a  heart 
covered  with  reverent  fear  and  humble 
dread,  under  a  sense  of  the  many  deep 
trials  Sacred  Goodness  had  brought  him 
through." 

He  several  times  visited  John  Church- 
man, whom  he  pronounces  "an  ancient 
worthy  minister  of  great  experiences.*' 
This  valuable  minister  took  a  private  op- 
portunity to  impart  to  his  youthful  visitor 
some  advice,  which  was  particularly  affect- 
ing and  highly  instructive, — thus  manifest- 


44  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

ins:  the  care  of  a  father  in  the  church  over 
a  bright  and  promising  son. 

At  a  subsequent  period  of  this  journey, 
he  again  visited  the  same  worthy  minister, 
he  being  then  very  ill,  and  in  human  pro- 
bability not  likely  to  recover.  During  a 
solemn  pause,  William  Hunt  says  it  arose 
in  his  heart  to  tell  him  he  thought  he  must 
surmount  this  wave,  and  perform  some  fur- 
ther service  for  the  truth;  to  which  he 
meekly  answered,  "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done." 

John  Churchman  did,  soon  afterwards, 
so  far  recover  his  health  as  to  go  to  Phila- 
delphia, for  the  purpose  of  seeking  a  pas- 
sage to  Barbadoes,  which  he  had  a  prospect 
of  visiting  on  a  religious  account ;  but  find- 
ing that  all  the  vessels  which  were  prepar- 
ing to  proceed  to  that  island  were  furnished 
with  guns  for  defence — the  English  and 
French  nations  being  then  at  war — he  did 
not  feel  at  liberty  even  to  look  at  them 
with  a  view  to  taking  a  passage.     Having 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  45 

informed  Friends  in  one  of  their  meetings 
of  his  sentiments  on  this  subject,  he  re- 
turned home,  and  waited  to  see  whether  a 
clearer  way  would  open.  But  the  concern 
went  off,  and  he  seems  to  have  regarded 
this  religious  concern  as  a  measure  ap- 
pointed by  a  wisdom  superior  to  his  own, 
to  enable  him  to  give  a  full  and  feeling- 
testimony  against  participating  in  or  giving 
countenance  to  the  destruction  of  human 
life.  John  Churchman  lived,  after  the  in- 
terview to  which  William  Hunt  alludes, 
between  thirteen  and  fourteen  years ;  and 
during  great  part  of  that  time  was  much 
engaged  in  the  service  of  the  gospel ;  so 
that  the  prospect  expressed  by  his  visitor 
was  amply  verified. 

When  he  was  about  leaving  that  part  of 
the  country,  William  Hunt  paid  a  parting 
visit  to  this  experienced  minister,  who 
dropped  some  admonitions  which  clearly 
indicate  his  solicitude  that  this  young  and 
highly   valued   friend   and   brother   in  the 


46  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT. 

gospel  might  not  grow  more  rapidly  in  the 
branch  than  in  the  root.  His  experience  of 
man  had  no  doubt  strongly  impressed  on 
his  mind  a  sense  of  the  danger  attendant 
upon  young  persons  when  endowed  with 
extraordinary  gifts,  natural  or  spiritual. 
His  expressions  were,  "I  have  had  sweet 
unity  and  sympathy  with  thee  from  thy 
first  coming  into  this  province.  I  am  glad 
thou  hast  grown  in  thy  gift;  yea,  and  thou 
wilt  still  grow  if  thou  sink  deep  and  wait 
in  thy  gift;  but  if  thou  leave  it,  thou  wilt 
grow  in  the  top,  and  many  words  without 
life.  Therefore  wait  in  the  gift,  and  when 
thou  comes  home,  see  if  thou  canst  not  say 
with  Jacob,  I  am  become  two  bands ;  say 
in  the  secret  of  thy  soul,  Lord,  if  thou  wilt 
be  pleased  to  blot  out  my  transgressions,  I 
am  content." 

These  appear  to  have  been  the  parting 
expressions  of  one  who  was  justly  regarded 
as  a  father  and  instructor,  both  to  him  and 


MEMOIRS   OF   AVILLIAM    HUNT.  47 

to  others,  and  they  made  a  deep  impression 
on  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

At  the  time  when  this  journey  was  per- 
formed, the  Society  of  Friends  were  labour- 
ing to  clear  themselves  from  the  practice  of 
holding  slaves ;  and  this  subject  did  not 
escape  the  attention  of  a  mind  so  tho- 
roughly alive  to  the  cause  of  universal 
righteousness  as  that  of  William  Hunt. 
When  about  leaving  Pennsylvania,*  he  re- 
marks, "My  heart  was  still  pained  on 
account  of  the  poor  negroes ;  and  feeling 
the  way  open  in  their  meetiiig  for  business, 
[at  West  ]S"ottingham]  I  spoke  tenderly  and 
closely  to  the  subject,  entreating  Friends  to 
live  deeply  inward,  and,  when  truth  should 
dictate  the  way  for  their  enlargement,  not 
to  let  self-love  hinder  so  great  a  work." 

"  The  cry  of  these  poor  creatures  was  so 

*  Pennsylvania  "was  then  a  slave-holding  province.  The 
first  law  vfhich  effectually  sealed  the  doom  of  slavery  in 
that  State  was  not  enacted  until  nearly  twenty  years  after 
that  time. 


48  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

lend  lu  my  ears,  that  I  scarce  ate  or  drank 
any  thing,  lest  I  should  partake  of  the  gain 
of  oppression." 

From  this  expression  we  may  readily 
perceive  that  his  views  in  this  respect  were 
very  similar  to  those  of  John  Woolman  in 
relation  to  the  products  of  slave-extracted 
labour. 

Having  nearly  accomplished  the  service 
to  which  he  believed  himself  called,  and 
taken  leave,  in  great  sweetness  and  tender- 
ness of  spirit,  of  many  of  the  friends  among 
whom  he  had  laboured,  he  was  expecting 
to  proceed  immediately  home,  when  he 
found  his  mind  drawn  towards  a  meeting 
which  lay  fifty  miles  out  of  his  way.  This, 
he  says,  was  a  pinching  trial ;  he  pleaded 
hard  to  be  excused.  But  the  covenant 
which  he  made  in  his  journey  was  brought 
into  view;  when  under  deep-baptism,  he 
had  promised  that  if  the  Lord  would  pre- 
serve him  to  the  honour  of  his  name,  he 
would  offer  up  not  only  his  nearest  enjoy- 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT.  49 

ments,  but  his  life  if  required.  Then,  he 
says,  a  sweet  voice  passed  through  his 
mind :  "  What  hast  thou  lacked  of  my 
presence?  have  not  I  been  with  thee  and 
supported  thee  through  those  dangerous 
spots  of  which  thou  wast  sore  afraid  ?  If 
thou  wilt  be  faithful,  I  will  still  preserve, 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  Wilt  thou  now 
distrust  the  sufficiency  of  my  power?" 

Then  he  says,  "  With  an  awful,  humble, 
yet  mournful  resignation,  I  said,  in  the 
secret  of  my  soul,  '  Lord,  thy  peace  is  more 
to  me  than  ten  thousand  w^orlds.  I  am 
w^illingto  follow  wheresoever  thou  pleasest.' 
While  I  could  keep  here,  my  mind  was  in 
true  quiet  and  stillness,  but  the  desire  I  had 
let  in  to  see  my  dear  wife  and  little  babes 
had  become  so  strong,  that  I  could  not 
easily  put  them  by;  and  therefore  I  spent 
this  night  in  many  a  bitter  sigh  and  heavy 
groan,  with  frequent  weeping." 

Having  attended  the  meeting  in  question, 
he   proceeded    homeward    without  further 


50  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

delay,  lodging  one  night  in  the  woods  on 
the  road,  and  found  his  wife  and  family 
well,  "who,"  says  he,  "with  many  dear 
friends  and  near  relatives,  were  glad  to  re- 
ceive me  once  more  in  the  fellowship  that 
is  with  the  Father  and  with  the  Son,  to 
whom  be  rendered  dread  and  humble  fear 
forever." 

ITear  the  close  of  the  narrative,  this  de- 
claration appears  :  "  Now  I  know  it  was  the 
language  of  the  Holy  Spirit  which  said, 
*Be  faithful,  and  I  will  preserve  at  home 
and  abroad.'  Oh,  saith  my  soul,  that  I, 
with  all  his  anointed,  may  ever  keep 
a  watchful  eye  to  the  secret  monitions 
thereof,  and  give  a  ready  obedience,  which 
alone  crowns  all  our  labour  with  true 
peace !" 

After  the  journey  just  mentioned,  another 
interval  of  nearly  six  years  occurs  in  the 
manuscript  volume,  during  which  no  ac- 
count appears  respecting  his  life  or  gospel 
labours. 


MEMOIRS   OF  WILLIAM   HUNT.  51 

Near  the  end  of  the  fifth  month,  1767,  we 
find  him  again  relinquishing  the  comforts 
and  engagements  of  domestic  life,  to  per- 
form a  visit  in  the  love  of  the  gospel  to 
Friends  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  Pennsyl- 
vania, !N'ew  Jersey,  ]^ew  York,  and  ISTew 
England.  His  companion  in  the  former 
part  of  this  visit  was  Zacharias  Dicks,  who 
was  also  a  minister,  and  appears  to  have 
been  a  member  of  the  same  Monthly  Meet- 
ing. The  commencement  of  this  journey 
was  attended  by  a  circumstance  of  no  ordi- 
nary trial.  On  the  night  previous  to  their 
departure  from  home,  the  youngest  child  of 
Zacharias  Dicks  was  seized  with  convul- 
sions, attended  with  great  apparent  suffer- 
ing. Yet  such  was  his  dedication  to  the 
cause  in  which  he  was  engaged,  that  he  was 
satisfied  to  set  out  on  his  journey,  resigning 
all  to  Divine  disposal.  And  in  this  conclu- 
sion he  was  encouraged  by  the  mother  of 
the  child,  who  gave  him  up  freely,  and  ex- 
pressed her  belief  that  they  had  best  pro- 


52  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

ceed  on  their  mission.  In  this,  as  in  the 
preceding  journeys,  we  find  them  taking  up 
at  times  their  lodging  in  the  woods,  while 
passing  the  mountainous  region  that  runs 
through  Virginia. 

The  first  meeting  which  they  attended  in 
that  province  is  mentioned  as  deeply  dis- 
tressing, from  a  conviction  of  the  want  of 
a  submission  to  the  ''baptizing  power  of 
religion,  to  gather  them  into  the  bond  and 
body  of  Christ,"  and  the  consequent  dis- 
order which  had  crept  in  among  them.  Yet 
we  find  that,  in  the  western  part  of  Vir- 
ginia, they  met  with  Friends  to  whom  they 
were  closely  united  in  gospel  fellowship, 
and  among  whom  they  had  meetings  and 
religious  opportunities  to  good  satisfaction. 
Among  these  friends  was  a  sister  to  Zacha- 
rias  Dick's  wife,  named  Hester  Haines,  who 
is  mentioned  as  having  a  beautiful  gift  in 
the  ministry. 

From  these  brief  notices  we  may  reason- 
ably infer,  though   nothing  specific  is  said 


MEMOIES    OF    WTLLIAIM    HUNT.  i)6 

on  the  subject,  that  the  benumbing  influ- 
ence of  slavery  was  then,  as  it  now  is,  more 
prevalent  and  productive  of  its  natural 
effects  in  Eastern  than  in  "Western  Virginia. 
Having  visited  the  meetings  of  Friends 
in  the  northwest  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and 
south  of  the  Potomac,  they  proceeded  to 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  which  and 
its  vicinity  a  number  of  meetings  are  noted, 
in  places  where  it  is  believed  few  Friends 
are  now  located.  The  condition  of  Eastern 
Pennsylvania  at  that  time,  compared  with 
what  it  is  now,  is  intimated  by  the  fact 
that  in  their  journey  from  Lancaster  to 
Philadelphia  they  were  furnished  with  a 
guide.  In  this  city  they  were  accommo- 
dated at  a  long-known  seat  of  hospitality, 
where  the  messengers  of  the  gospel  received 
a  cordial  welcome, — the  house  of  Isaac 
Zane.* 


*  The  hospitality  of  this  house  was  not  by  any  means 
confined   to   ministering  Friends,  or  Friends  of  any  de- 


54  MEMOTllS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

From  Philadelpliia  they  passed,  througti 
New  Jersey  and  New  York,  to  the  country 
now  composing  the  Eastern  States;  and, 
from  some  remarks  as  they  passed  among 
the  Presbyterians  in  that  section  of  the 
country,  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  anti- 
pathy to  our  Society,  which  has  so  fre- 
quently been  noted  as  existing  during  a 
preceding  age,  had  then  nearly  if  not 
totally  passed  away. 

During  this  journey  we  find  numerous 
instances  of  religious  visits  to  persons  who, 
from  age  or  infirmity,  were  in  great  mea- 
sure cut  ofi"  from  the  usual  intercourse  of 
society.  These  visits  appear  to  have  been 
satisfactory  to  the  visitors,  and  no  doubt 
were  strengthening  and  consolatory  to  those 
who  were  visited. 

At  a  large  meeting  in  the  neighbourhood 


scription.  It  was  the  home  of  the  native  Indian  -who 
visited  the  city,  particularly  if  he  came  on  a  mission  of 
peace. 


MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM   HUNT.  55 

of  N'arragansett  Bay,  he  says,  "  Though  we 
had  little  to  say,  yet  Adam  in  Paradise 
scarcely  enjoyed  a  greater  felicity  than  I  did 
at  this  time,  being  brought  to  an  heavenly 
place  in  Christ  Jesus,  where  I  beheld  the 
brightness  of  God's  glory  in  the  beauty  of 
holiness."  "After  meeting,"  he  added, 
"many  Friends  went  to  our  lodging,  where 
the  Father's  love  was  like  the  refreshing 
dew  spread  abroad  on  the  tender  grass.  We 
parted  from  them  in  much  love  and  affec- 
tionate nearness," 

Having  proceeded  eastward  as  far  as 
Berwick,  in  what  is  now  the  State  of  Maine, 
they  addressed  the  following  epistle  to  the 
Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Casco  Bay 
and  Mariconee : — 

"  We,  being  drawn,  in  the  love  and  beauty 
of  gospel  good- will,  to  visit  the  churches  in 
this  land,  had  some  thought  of  coming  to 
you,  but  think  ourselves  clear,  yet  are  free 
to  visit  you  with  a  few  lines,  earnestly  be- 
seeching  you    to    stand   fast   in  that  faith 


56  MEMOIKS    UF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

which  was  given  to  the  saints,  that  you 
may  grow  up  together  in  the  perfect  bond 
of  true  love,  knit  and  united  in  that  fellow- 
ship which  is  with  God,  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord. 

"And,  dear  Friends,  if  there  be  any 
among  you  who  have  received  the  holy 
anointing  as  ministers  and  elders,  we  ear- 
nestly exhort  all  such  that  they  look  well  to 
their  standing,  taking  due  heed  to  the  gift 
received,  waiting  in  deep  silence  till  the 
Lamb  comes  from  the  throne  to  loose  the 
seals  of  the  book  of  life.  So  shall  you 
witness  the  mystery  of  the  holy  kingdom 
discovered  in  the  bright  appearance  of 
God's  glory. 

"  Our  minds  are  feelingly  baptized  into 
death  and  suffering  through  this  land,  occa- 
sioned, we  think,  by  the  foremost  rank  not 
keeping  their  first  love  chaste  and  pure, 
duly  waiting  to  feel  their  minds  seasoned 
with  the  salt  and  virtue  of  the  power  of  an 
endless  life,  whereby  they  would  grow  from 


MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAxM   HUNT.  57 

one  degree  of  knowledge  and  experience  to 
another,  able  to  endure  hardness  for  the 
name  and  cause  of  truth. 

"  Our  sphits  fervently  breathe  to  the 
Fountain  and  Source  of  all  good  for  you, 
though  unknown,  that  you  may  grow  as 
God's  peculiar  heritage,  like  Mount  Zion, 
which  is  never  to  be  removed,  but  is  to  in- 
herit holiness  forever.  In  this  state  you 
will  shine  as  bright  stars  in  the  firmament 
of  God's  power,  giving  an  illustrious  light 
in  that  remote  and  dark  corner  of  the 
earth. 

"And,  dearly  beloved  Friends,  we  fur- 
ther entreat  you  carefully  to  watch  over  one 
another  for  good,  sincerely  seeking  after  an 
humble,  reverent,  weighty  sense  of  truth, 
to  possess  your  minds  in  all  your  meetings 
for  w^orship  and  discipline ;  so  will  you  be 
preserved  out  of  all  undue  heats  and  pas- 
sions, with  every  thing  that  would  interrupt 
the  true  peace  and  harmony  of  the  church. 
And   once  more  we  affectionately  address 


00  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

all  who  are  concerned  in  the  ministry,  that 
they  carefully  wait  to  know  the  word  of  the 
Lord  to  be  as  a  fire  in  their  hearts,  -shut  up 
in  their  bones ;  then  shall  they  stand  as  the 
mouth  of  God,  and  speak  as  his  oracle. 

"We  sorrowfully  apprehend  the  church 
in  many  places  sustains  great  loss  for  want 
of  ministers  and  elders  being  rightly  bap- 
tized into  the  pure  life,  from  whence  they 
would  bring  forth  the  beautifal  treasures  of 
God's  house  to  the  household,  feeding  his 
flock  with  his  doctrine  that  drops  as  the 
dew,  and  his  speech  as  the  small  rain. 

"  And,  dear  youth,  we  effectually  feel  the 
continuing  spring  of  infinite  love  to  reach 
even  unto  you,  to  invite  you  to  draw  near 
to  the  house  of  the  Lord,  where  you  may 
witness  the  turning  of  his  hand,  preparing 
in  you  burnt-ofterings  and  sacrifices,  until 
he  hath  redeemed  you  through  the  spirit  of 
judgment  and  burning.  Then  will  you  be- 
come joyful  in  the  house  of  prayer,  and 
fruitful  in  the  field  of  offerings ;  and  he,  the 


MEMOIRS    OP   WILLIAM    HUNT.  59 

Lord  of  Hosts,  will  deck  you  with  the  orna- 
ment of  his  own  Spirit,  giving  you  his  seal 
and  the  "Lamb's  mark,  whereby  you  will 
rise  up  in  the  dread  and  might  of  his 
power,  to  ride  upon  the  high  places  of  the 
earth,  over  the  earthly  mind,  which  still 
rules  in  the  children  of  disobedience. 

"  Our  spirits  unite  in  a  feeling  of  sym- 
pathy and  cordial  spring  of  pure  love 
toward  all  the  sheep  and  lambs  of  our 
Father's  fold,  much  desiring  that  they  may 
not  faint  or  be  discouraged  in  their  minds 
at  the  approaching  trials,  or  temptations  of 
any  kind,  with  clouds  or  glooms  of  dark- 
ness. As  said  the  royal  Psalmist,  '  Though 
I  walk  through  the  valley  and  shadow  of 
death,  the  Lord  is  on  my  right  hand :  I  will 
fear  no  evil.'  If  you  choose  the  Lord  for 
your  portion,  his  promises  are  yea  and 
amen  forever.  And  for  the  cry  of  the  poor 
and  needy  he  will  surely  arise.  Therefore, 
the  language  of  the  spirit  in  our  minds, 
unto  all  such  as  are  seeking  the  city  of 


60  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

foundations,  is,  to  look  diligently,  with  an 
inward  eye,  through  and  over  all  things 
which  are  behind  in  this  world ;  with  fer- 
vent zeal  and  becoming  resolution,  press 
after  the  Prince  and  Captain  of  Salvation. 

"  Thus,  dear  Friends,  having  briefly  com- 
municated what  came  before  us  on  your 
account,  we  engage  each  of  you  to  exert 
yourselves  according  to  the  gift  received, 
and  take  charge  of  God's  glory ;  in  whose 
love,  and  fellow^ship  of  the  gospel  of  his 
dear  Son,  w^e  tenderly  salute  every  sincere 
mind. 

"  Your  friends  and  brethren, 

''Zacharias  Dicks, 
"William  Hunt." 

This  epistle  is  in  the  MS.  without  date, 
but  it  must  have  been  written  toward  the 
close  of  the  summer,  1767,  for  we  soon 
afterward  find  them  proceeding  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  attending  the  Yearly  Meeting 
there,  which  was  then  held  near  the  end  of 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  61 

the  ninth  month.  That  meeting,  we  are 
told,  "was  large,  and  favoured  with  a  de- 
gree of  gospel  fellowship,  in  the  union  ol 
which  Friends  transacted  their  business  in 
much  calmness  and  condescension." 

At  the  close  of  that  meeting,  Zacharias 
Dicks  feeling  at  liberty  to  return  home,  he 
was  furnished  with  a  certificate  from  the 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  expressive 
of  their  unity  with  his  visit,  ministry,  and 
conversation ;  and  Thomas  Thornburgh, 
nephew  to  William  Hunt,  and  member  of 
the  !N"ew  Garden  Monthly  Meeting,  ISTorth 
Carolina,  having  attended  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, became  the  companion  of  his  uncle 
during  the  remainder  of  the  journey. 

Though  William  Hunt  appears  to  have 
already  paid  a  general  visit  to  Friends  in 
New  England,  yet,  feeling  anew  the  spring 
of  gospel  love  toward  them,  he  and  his 
companion  set  out  from  Philadelphia  a  few 
days  after  the  close  of  the  Yearly  Meeting, 
and,  passing  through    some  parts  of  New 


62  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

York,  and  attending  the  meetings  there, 
they,  on  the  last  day  of  the  tenth  month, 
landed  on  the  island  of  ITantucket,  where 
they  were  gladly  received  by  those  valuable 
Friends,  William  Eotch  and  his  wife. 

This  seems  to  have  been  a  place  of  re- 
markable exercise  to  William  Hunt;  for, 
of  the  seven  meetings  which  he  attended 
during  the  nine  days  he  was  there,  the  first 
four,  he  says,  he  "  sat  under  a  cloud  of 
thick  darkness,  in  which  he  felt  the  mystery 
of  iniquity  work  in  a  wonderful  manner; 
after  which  the  Lord,  in  everlasting  kind- 
ness to  his  pained  children,  was  pleased  to 
raise  the  seed  of  Zion  and  exalt  her  horn 
in  the  midst  of  her  enemies,  so  that  we 
had  many  comfortable  meetings,  and  our 
hearts  were  much  broken  and  sweetly 
united." 

They  visited  this  island  a  third  time,  at 
the  last  of  which  he  testifies,  "The  Lord  of 
all  our  mercies  gave  us  the  seal  of  his  living 
presence,  to  our  confirmation  and  con  sola- 


MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  bo 

tion,  in  the  holj  union  of  true  fellowship, 
as  indeed  many  were  the  precious  seasons  I 
had  on  this  island,  although  wrong  things 
had  much  prevailed,  and  the  accuser  of  the 
brethren  had  sown  the  cruel  seed  of  discord 
to  the  wounding  of  many.  Yet  a  remnant 
remain,  who  are  earnestly  pressing  to  get 
from  under  the  cloud  into  the  perfect 
liberty  of  the  sons  of  God." 

His  concern,  at  the  time  of  his  third  visit, 
was  chiefly  to  the  ministers  and  elders, 
most  of  whom  he  visited  in  their  families, 
accompanied  by  William  Eotch,  and  after- 
ward obtained  a  meeting  with  them,  which 
he  sat  in  silence,  as  he  did  the  public  meet- 
ing on  first-day.  Having  thus  given  them 
an  example  which  proved  that  his  time  of 
speaking  was  not  always  ready,  he  re- 
quested another  meeting  of  the  ministers — 
nothing  being  here  said  of  elders — and 
therein  delivered  a  close,  searching  testi- 
mony, pointing  out  the  danger  of  nourish- 
ing wrong  births,  by  handing  forth  food  not 


64  MEMOIRS    OF    AVILLIAM    HUNT. 

duly  seasoned  with  lieavenl}^  salt  and  con- 
secrated by  the  living  word ;  telling  them 
this  kind  of  preaching  brought  pain  and 
death  to  the  true  birth,  w-hose  begettings 
were  in  the  holy  seed  and  spring  of  life. 
Soon  after  this,  feeling  himself  clear,  they 
proceeded  to  the  continent,  and,  after  pass- 
ing through  some  parts  of  Massachusetts, — 
where,  at  a  number  of  meetings,  he  says, 
"  The  Lord  Almighty  was  near  to  open  the 
great  mystery  of  iniquity,  and  gave  ability 
to  detect  it  in  its  several  branches," — they 
came  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  at  ^N^ewport, 
on  Rhode  Island,  in  the  beginning  of  1768. 
Here,  he  says,  his  mind  was  deeply  con- 
cerned to  press  friends  to  the  maintenance 
of  good  order  and  discipline,  in  the  meek- 
ness and  w^isdom  of  truth. 

Here  we  find  this  devoted  servant  en- 
gaging in  the  blessed  oifice  of  a  peace- 
maker. A  difference  having  arisen  among 
Friends  respecting  the  right  to  some  lands, 
it  had  long  existed,  and  appeared  likely  to 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT.  65 

lead  to  disastrous  consequences.  Some 
Friends  being  engaged  in  an  effort  to  com- 
pose this  difference,  "William  Hunt  was  con- 
cerned to  unite  with  them.  The  parties 
being  convened  at  ten  in  the  morning,  a 
protracted  debate,  running  some  time  into 
the  night,  ensued,  when  an  adjustment  was 
ultimately  effected,  and  the  agreement  re- 
duced to  writing,  greatly  to  the  satisfaction 
of  Friends.  What  agency  William  Hunt 
had  in  procuring  this  happy  result  is  not 
stated ;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
presence  of  a  man  so  clothed  with  the  spirit 
of  meekness  and  restoring  love  must  have 
exercised  a  powerful  influence  in  restrain- 
ing the  ebullitions  of  passion  which  real  or 
fancied  interests  are  apt  to  excite.  While 
returning  to  their  own  residence,  few  events 
of  particular  interest  appear  to  have  oc- 
curred. In  passing  through  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  he  mentions  meeting  with 
Ann  Moore,  whom  he  styles  his  ancient 
friend  and  mother  in  the  truth,  who  was 


66  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

instrumental  in  gathering  him  to  God,  and 
the  saving  knowledge  of  his  truth.  They 
were,  he  says,  "  exceedingly  glad  to  see 
each  other,  being  refreshed  in  the  Lord  by 
the  feeling  of  his  presence,  which  is  the  life 
of  his  people." 

This  Friend,  of  whom  I  find  no  further 
account,  was  probably  a  minister,  who 
visited  the  neighbourhood  where  William 
Hunt  resided  in  his  childhood,  and  contri- 
buted, by  her  ministry,  to  give  a  direction 
to  his  course  from  which  he  never  after- 
ward deviated.  To  a  man  who  had  so 
fully  and  livingly  witnessed  the  excellency 
of  the  way  into  which  he  had  been  thus  led, 
the  instrument  of  his  conversion  could 
scarcely  be  regarded  with  less  than  filial 
attachment.  And  yet  this  same  friend  had 
probably  extended  equal  labour  to  thou- 
sands who,  having  never  embraced  the  in- 
vitations of  Divine  love  which  she  was 
commissioned  to   offer,  would  feel  toward 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  67 

her  nothing  more  than  a  cold  and  distant 
respect. 

It  is  only  those  who  have  embraced  the 
offers  of  redeeming  love  that  can  fully 
understand  how  beautiful  on  the  moun- 
tains are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good 
tidings,  that  publish eth  peace,  that  bringeth 
good  tidings  of  good ;  that  publisheth  sal- 
vation ;  that  saith  unto  Zion,  Thy  God 
reign  eth. 

Having  travelled  by  water  and  land, — 
after  being  joined  by  Thomas  Thornburgh, 
— according  to  estimation,  something  more 
than  two  thousand  -^.ve  hundred  miles,  he 
was  favoured  with  a  safe  and  peaceful 
return  to  his  family  in  North  Carolina, 
under  a  belief  that  he  had  performed  his 
duty. 

The  last-mentioned  journey  was  accom- 
plished within  the  years  1767  and  1768.  A 
little  more  than  two  years  was  allowed  to 
him  in  the  enjoyment  of  domestic  life  be- 
fore he  was  again  engaged  in  a  gospel  mis- 


68  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

sioii  more  extensive  than  any  in  which  he 
had  been  previously  employed,  and  from 
which  he  was  not  permitted  to  return  again 
to  his  family  and  friends. 

It  appears  that  a  concern  to  visit  the 
churches  in  Europe  had  been,  during  a 
number  of  years,  pressing  with  increasing 
weight  on  his  mind.  "  After  many  deep 
and  unspeakable  baptisms  and  close  ex- 
ercises on  that  account,"  he  gave  up  to  the 
prospect,  and  acquainted  his  friends  at 
home  with  his  concern,  and  received  from 
them  the  testimonials  of  their  concurrence, 
which  the  order  of  the  Society  required. 
His  nephew,  Thomas  Thornburgh,  then  a 
young  man,  who  had  some  times  appeared 
in  the  ministry,  and  who  had  borne  him 
company  through  the  latter  part  of  his  pre- 
vious journey,  consented  to  become  his 
companion  in  this  more  extensive  and 
probably  more  deeply  exercising  engage- 
ment. 

In  the  tenth  month,  1770,  they  left  the 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT.  69 

habitation  of  "William  Hunt,  at  ]!^ew  Gar- 
den, Nortli  Carolina,  Laving  the  company 
of  many  Friends  and  relations,  who  were 
proceeding  with  them  to  their  Yearly 
Meeting  in  Perquimans  county.  That 
meeting  being  over,  they  paid  a  visit  to 
Thomas  Mcholson,  an  experienced  minis- 
ter, who  had  himself  been  engaged  in  a 
gospel  mission  similar  to  that  in  which  they 
were  abont  to  embark ;  and  they  found  his 
account  of  his  travels  in  Great  Britain  very 
interesting  and  instructive.  Though  we 
find  in  the  narrative  before  us  no  intima- 
tion of  an  apprehension  on  the  part  of 
"William  Hunt  that  he  was  about  to  take  a 
final  leave  of  !N"orth  Carolina,  yet  his  en- 
gagements plainly  indicate  his  desire  to 
leave  no  debt  of  religious  service  among  his 
friends  there  unpaid.  About  ten  days  were 
employed  in  visits  to  ancient  Friends,  and 
to  the  meetings  in  that  neighbourhood, 
after  which  they  passed  into  Virginia,  and, 
having  attended  numerous  meetings  in  that 


70  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM   HUNT. 

province  and  in  Maryland,  they  proceeded, 
by  way  of  York,  in  Pennsylvania,  to  Phila- 
delphia. From  the  number  of  meetings 
which  are  noted  in  the  narrative,  and  their 
known  localities,  it  plainly  appears  that, 
although  the  churches  in  Europe  were  the 
great  object  of  the  concern,  it  was  by  no 
means  peculiar  to  them;  but  that  con- 
siderable time  was  occupied,  and  no  trivial 
amount  of  labour  endured,  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  these  visits,  which  would  have 
been  unnecessary  in  case  they  had  desired 
to  reach  their  port  of  embarkation  with  the 
least  expense  of  labour  and  time.  In  this 
part  of  their  journey,  we  several  times  meet 
with  the  humble  acknowledgment  of  sea- 
sons in  which  they  w^ere  favoured  with  the 
consoling  and  refreshing  presence  of  the 
blessed  Head  of  the  Church,  opening  at 
times  the  heavenly  mysteries  in  his  wisdom 
and  power,  to  the  edification  and  joy  of  the 
faithful;  and  to  him  alone  the  praise  is 
ascribed. 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT.  71 

About  ten  days  were  diligently  employed 
in  Philadelphia  and  its  vicinity  in  visiting 
the  sick,  and  in  the  attendance  of  meetings ; 
and,  having  had  "many  humbling  and 
confirming  seasons  there  in  the  service  of 
their  Lord  and  Master,"  they  crossed  the 
Delaware  into  !N"ew  Jersey,  having  the  com- 
pany of  Israel  and  John  Pemberton,  two 
Friends  who  had  long  held  a  conspicuous 
place  among  the  worthies  of  their  day. 
Proceeding  southwardly,  they  visited  the 
meetings  of  Friends  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
river  and  bay  of  Delaware,  and  along  the 
sea-coast  of  Plainfield,  and  thence  to  Kew 
York.  Their  gospel  labours  in  New  Jersey, 
and  at  the  few  meetings  which  they  at- 
tended within  the  limits  of  E'ew  York,  ap- 
pear to  have  been  satisfactory  to  them- 
selves and  at  times  attended  with  much 
enlargement  in  relation  to  the  doctrines  of 
life  and  salvation. 

The  island  of  !N'antucket  seemed,  in  this 
as  in  the  former  journey,  to  have  been  a 


72  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

particular  object  of  concern;  for  after  pass- 
ing through  ITew  York  and  Connecticut, 
with  very  little  detention  on  the  road, 
to  l^ewport,  Rhode  Island,  and  spending 
about  ten  days  there,  to  the  mutual  com- 
fort and  encouragement  of  themselves  and 
their  friends,  they  embarked  for  that  island. 
There  they  remained  more  than  three 
weeks,  diligently  labouring  in  the  work  of 
the  gospel,  and,  after  the  example  of  the 
apostle,  teaching  them  in  their  public 
assemblies,  and  from  house  to  house. 

When  they  felt  clear  of  Nantucket,  they 
returned  to  Rhode  Island:  thence,  after 
being  a  few  days  there,  they  proceeded  to 
some  meetings  in  the  interior  ofl^ew  York, 
where,  he  says,  '^  the  Lord  was  pleased  to 
manifest  the  glory  of  his  power,  and  open 
the  mystery  of  his  pure  truth  to  the  renown 
of  his  own  name." 

From  Kew  York  they  passed  through 
IsTew  Jersey,  and,  without  any  great  devia- 
tion from  a  direct  road,  arrived  at  Phila- 


MEMOIRS    OP   WILLIAM   HUNT.  73 

delphia  in  time  to  attend  the  General  Meet- 
ing of  Ministers  and  Elders,  which  was 
then  held  there  in  the  spring,  and  where 
Friends  from  most  parts  of  Pennsylvania 
and  'New  Jersey,  as  well  as  from  Delaware 
and  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  were 
assembled,  and  where,  he  says,  "  they  were 
refreshed  one  in  another,  through  the 
presence  of  Him  who  lives  forever."  As 
that  meeting — which  was  continued  until 
the  year  1799,  when  the  time  of  holding 
the  Yearly  Meeting  was  changed  from  the 
ninth  to  the  fourth  month — was  held  in 
the  third  month,  it  appears  that  the  labours 
thus  far  briefly  noticed  occupied  "William 
Hunt  and  his  companion  throughout  the 
winter  of  1770-71. 

The  time  between  the  close  of  the  General 
Meeting  just  referred  to  and  the  beginning 
of  the  fifth  month  was  chiefly  employed  in 
visiting  the  meetings  on  both  sides  of  the 
Delaware  which  were  located  at  no  great 
distance  from   Philadelphia.      Among  the 


74  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

Friends  thus  visited,  William  Hunt  had  a 
number  of  relatives  in  ISTew  Jersey,  and  the 
meetings  with  them,  he  says,  "  were  very 
comfortable,  being  seasoned  with  the  sa- 
voury salt  and  pure  seed  of  life,  in  the 
sense  whereof  we  parted  in  great  tender- 
ness." The  names  of  the  relatives  here 
alluded  to  are  not  mentioned;  but  as  John 
Woolman  was  a  first-cousin  to  William 
Hunt,  was  then  living  a  few  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  and  about  a  year  after  that 
time  embarked  for  Europe  on  a  similar  ser- 
vice, we  may  reasonably  suppose  that  he 
was  one  of  the  number,  and  that  the  parting 
of  such  congenial  spirits  would,  under  exist- 
ing circumstances,  be  particularly  tender. 

On  the  4th  of  the  fifth  month,  1771,  they 
went,  at  Chester,  fifteen  miles  below  Phila- 
delphia, on  board  the  ship  Mary  and  Eliza- 
beth, of  which  James  Sparks*  was  master. 

•^  This  appears  to  have  been  the  same  vessel  and  cap- 
tain that  carried  John  Woolman  and  Samuel  Emlen  across 
the  Atlantic  in  the  fifth  month,  1772, 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT.  75 

A  number  of  Friends  accompanying  them 
to  the  ship,  they  had  a  solemn  meeting 
there,  at  the  close  of  which  they  parted  in 
the  love  of  the  gospel. 

In  twenty-four  hours  they  were  out  of 
the  capes,  and  at  the  end  of  twenty-seven 
days  from  the  time  of  leaving  Philadelphia 
they  were  safely  landed  at  London.  From 
these  dates  it  appears  that  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing was  just  over  w^hen  they  arrived.  A  few 
days  having  been  spent  in  London,  our 
friends  proceeded — taking  a  number  of 
meetings  in  their  way — to  the  city  of 
York.  At  one  of  these,  we  are  told,  many 
Methodists  coming  in,  they  were  "  led  to 
instruct  them  by  silence  that  the  gospel 
ministry  is  not  of  man,  nor  by  the  will  of 
man." 

At  York,  we  are  informed,  there  "  was  a 
large  Quarterly  Meeting  of  plain,  solid 
Friends,  many  of  whom  were  feelingly 
gathered  in  the  name  and  power  of  truth, 
and   became  zealously  concerned  for   the 


76  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

support  of  the  discipline  and  gospel  order. 
The  meeting  was  owned  by  the  presence  of 
the  Great  I  AM,  the  Saviour  of  his  people. 
It  concluded  in  sweet  praise  to  the  holy 
name,  and  Friends  parted  in  much  love 
and  unity,  strengthened  by  their  coming 
together."  Through  a  portion  of  their 
journey  southward  from  York  they  had 
the  interesting  company  of  that  mother  in 
Israel,  Esther  Tuke,  who  was  then  engaged 
in  a  visit  to  iTewcastle  and  the  northern 
counties.  Near  Pardshaw,  where  a  large 
meeting  was  then  held,  we  find  them 
strengthened  and  refreshed  by  the  company 
of  two  female  ministers,  Hannah  Harris  and 

her  companion, Wilkinson,  who  had 

visited  America  in  the  service  of  the  gospel. 
The  former  is  spoken  of  as  a  woman  of 
deep  experience,  with  a  large  and  lively 
gift  in  the  ministry.  Of  these  worthies 
little  is  probably  now  known ;  but  of  them 
and    many    others,    "whose    names    have 


MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT.  77 

perished  from  the  earth,"  we  may  humbly 
trust  that  their  record  is  on  high. 

The  journey  which  was  accomplished 
through  the  northern  counties  of  England, 
and  some  parts  of  Scotland,  though  at- 
tended with  the  exercises  which  usually 
appertain  to  such  engagements,  was  not 
marked  by  many  incidents  which  would  be 
interesting  to  readers  of  the  present  day. 
At  the  time  of  this  visit,  the  Society  of 
Friends  appears  to  have  been  greatly  re- 
duced in  Scotland;  yet  there  were  some 
who  were  glad  to  see  these  gospel  messen- 
gers. At  Urie,  the  ancient  seat  of  the 
Barclay  family,  they  lodged  with  Robert 
Barclay,  the  great-grandson  of  the  Apolo- 
gist, by  whom  they  were  kindly  enter- 
tained.* 


*  When  Richard  Jordan  paid  a  religious  visit  to  Europe 
about  the  beginning  of  the  passing  century,  he  was  led  in 
the  course  of  his  travels  to  this  place,  and  found  the 
ancient  residence  of  the  Apologist  in  possession  of  a  young 


78  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

Yorkshire  appears  to  have  been  a  great 
field  of  labour  to  them ;  for  they  "  visited 
that  county  throughout,  being  at  upward 
of  seventy  meetings;  and  though  we  had," 
says  he,  "many  painful  exercising  seasons, 
yet  the  Lord,  in  his  wonted  goodness,  was 
graciously  pleased  to  help  us,  and  to  give 
many  comfortable  opportunities,  to  the  re- 
freshing of  our  minds  and  the  strengthen- 
ing of  his  people."  They  twice  attended 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Lancashire,  and, 
proceeding  to  Liverpool,  in  order  to  em- 
bark  for  Ireland,  attended    the    meetings 

man,  one  of  his  descendants,  of  the  name  of  Robert  Bar- 
clay. Though  this  young  man  made  no  profession  with 
Friends,  he  still  cherished  the  memory  and  preserved 
many  relics  of  his  worthy  ancestor.  Richard  Jordan  was 
hospitably  received  by  him,  and  was  favoured  with  an  im- 
pressive religious  opportunity,  in  which  his  youthful  host 
was  greatly  tendered,  and  melted  into  tears.  I  heard 
Richard  Jordan  relate  the  circumstance.  After  the  oppor- 
tunity was  past,  some  one  who  had  been  present  intimated 
an  apprehension  that  the  spirit  of  Robert  Barclay,  the 
Apologist,  was  hovering  over  them. 


MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM   HUNT.  79 

there,  at  one  of  which  William  Hunt  men- 
tions, "Tne  Lord  was  pleased  to  give  ns 
a  blessed  earnest  of  his  love,  power,  and 
presence,  that  should  accompany  us  into 
Ireland." 

A  passage  of  twenty-six  hours  trans- 
ported them  across  the  Irish  Sea  to  Dublin. 
After  visiting  many  parts  of  Ireland,  appa- 
rently all  where  meetings  of  Friends  were 
established,  their  labours  on  that  island 
were  closed  at  Dublin,  where  they  began. 
At  the  national  meeting,  which  was  very 
large,  we  are  told,  ''  to  the  praise  of  Israel's 
Shepherd,  who  never  fails  to  stretch  forth  a 
hand  to  help  those  that  seek  him  aright,  the 
many  sittings  for  worship  and  discipline 
were  evidently  favoured  with  the  owning 
power  and  presence  of  truth,  wherein  the 
minds  of  engaged  Friends  were  much  en- 
larged in  wisdom  and  heavenly  knowledge, 
to  communicate  sundry  weighty  advices, 
both  to  men's  and  women's  meetings,  re- 
commending closely  to  them  their  taking 


80  MEMOIRS   OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

charge  of  God's  glory  and  truth's  testi- 
mony in  the  several  quarters  of  that  king- 
dom." 

Having  had  many  strengthening  and  con 
firming  seasons,  they  parted  with  their 
Friends  "  in  the  love  of  the  pure  mystery 
shed  abroad  in  their  hearts."  At  a  First- 
day  Meeting  previous  to  their  embarkation 
he  says,  "  The  Lord  granted  the  additional 
seal  of  his  sweetening  presence  to  accom- 
pany their  spirits."  A  comfortable  voyage 
of  forty-eight  hours,  in  which  the  passen- 
gers, twelve  in  number,  were  all  Friends, 
some  of  whom  were  going  to  attend  the 
Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  brought  them 
safely  to  Liverpool,  for  which  favour  the 
writer  of  the  narrative  expresses  his  grate- 
ful acknowledgment  to  the  Preserver  of 
men. 

IS'early  a  year  must  then  have  been  passed 
on  the  British  islands,  for  we  find  them  soon 
afterward  repairing  to  London  to  attend 
the  Yearly  Meeting  there,  where  they  had 


MEMOIRS    OP    WILLIAM    HUNT.  81 

the  satisfaction  to  meet  not  only  with  many 
of  their  English  Friends  from  town  and 
country,  who  were  rejoiced  to  see  them, 
but  also  with  a  number  of  American  minis- 
ters, who  were  engaged  in  visits  to  the 
churches  there.  Among  these  we  find 
the  names  of  Sarah  and  Deborah  Morris 
and  John  Woolman.  "We  were,"  says 
he,  "  truly  glad  and  comforted  one  in 
another." 

The  Yearly  Meeting  at  London,  we  are 
told,  "  was  large,  and  much  favoured  with 
the  owning  power  and  presence  of  truth, 
wherein  they  were  enabled  to  transact  the 
weighty  afiairs  of  the  church  to  their 
mutual  edification,  comfort,  and  strengthen- 
ing one  of  another." 

A  little  more  than  two  months  elapsed 
between  the  close  of  the  Yearly  Meeting 
and  the  attack  of  the  fatal  disease  which 
consigned  "VYilliam  Hunt  to  the  house  ap- 
pointed for  all  living;  and  the  very  brief 
memoirs  that  remain  sufficiently  show  that 


82  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

this  interval  was  industriously  occupied, 
partly  in  England  and  partly  in  the  Low 
Countries  on  the  continent.  When  reading 
this  memoir,  and  observing  the  frequent 
evidence  of  the  deep  feeling  of  dependence 
upon  the  openings  and  leading  of  the  true 
light,  and  of  an  active  and  ardent  piety 
which  it  exhibits,  we  can  hardly  fail  to  re- 
gret that  so  little  was  written  or  preserved. 
William  Hunt  plainly  appears  to  have  been 
one  of  those  who  performed  the  labours  of  M 

a  long  life  in  a  few  years ;  and  although, 
according  to  human  estimation,  he  seems 
to  have  been  cut  off  in  the  flower  of  his 
days,  he  was  gathered  in  his  season  as  one 
fully  ripe. 


LETTERS 

OF 

WILLIAM    HUNT 

TO  VARIOUS  INDIVIDUALS. 


TO    URIAH   WOOLMAN. 

KiRKLINGTON   IN   CUMBERLAND,  > 

Sth  mo.  7th,  1771.  J 

My  dear  and  truly  united  relation, — It  is 
with  great  pleasure  and  sv^eetness  of  mind 
I  put  pen  to  paper  in  order  to  convey  the 
intelligence  that  we  are  yet  in  the  land  of 
the  living.  Though  trying  dispensations 
and  proving  seasons  are  often  the  portion 
of  our  allotment,  assigned  by  the  great 
Father,  yet  he  hath  not  left  us  altogether  in 
oblivion,  but  hath  hitherto  brought  up  the 
life  out  of  every  horrible  pit  and  lonesome 
spot  to  rejoice  in  his  holy  name,  and  to 
sing  praises    as   before   the   cherubims  of 

83 


84  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT. 

glory;  who  had  no  might  to  deliver  or 
strength  to  bring  forth,  but  in  him  with 
whom  riches  and  wisdom,  skill  and  under- 
standing, still  remain  ;  and  his  hand,  being 
full  of  blessings,  is  yet  open  to  his  depend- 
ing children.  With  deep  thankfulness, 
reverence,  and  fear,  in  an  humbling  sense 
of  his  goodness,  all  that  lives  and  moves 
within  me  of  the  immortal  union  says 
hallelujah  !  glory  and  renown  to  his  worthy 
name  who  rules  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
and  hath  not  forsaken  the  children  of  men. 
Ilosanna  to  him  and  the  Lamb  forever. 
Amen. 

Most  inwardly  beloved  friend  and  cousin, 
it  is  with  feeling  affection  I  very  nearly 
salute  thee,  with  thy  dear  wife,  and  fer- 
vently desire  that  the  God  of  truth  and 
perfect  wisdom  may  ever  be  near  to  prepare 
your  way,  and  sanctify  your  stepping  along 
through  the  shady  vale  of  probation,  keep- 
ing the  mind  under  an  holy  watchful  sense, 
and  pressing  after  the  prevalence  of  pure 
truth,  wherein  is  safe  dwelling,  and  a  quiet 
habitation  to  the  weary  soul  in  every  day 
of  trouble.  Oh,  saith  my  soul,  that  thou, 
bone  of  my  bone,  in  a  twofold  relation,  to 


CORRESPONDENCE.  85 

whom  my  life  is  very  nearly  gathered,  in 
the  heavenly  mystery  and  union  of  gospel 
fellowship,  not  easy  to  describe  in  language 
with  pen  and  ink;  but  we  read:  "The 
Spirit  searcheth  out  the  deep  things ;"  yea, 
ever  since  mine  eye  saw  I  loved  thee  with  a 
pure  and  undefiled  love.  Thou  hast  been 
as  my  brothers, — as  though  twins  in  one 
and  the  same  family,  receiving  nourishment 
from  one  breast.  That  thou  mayest  per- 
severe in  the  way  of  truth  and  increase  in 
righteousness,  is  my  ardent  petition  to  the 
Fountain  of  pure  help.  "We  are,  through 
merciful  regard,  favoured  with  tolerable 
health ;  we  pursue  our  journey  with  great 
diligence,  and  are  now  just  ready  to  enter 
Scotland.  If  life  should  be  continued,  we 
may  in  succeeding  time  give  thee  a  further 
account  of  our  progress  in  this  strange  land. 
In  the.  mean  time  I  remain,  with  sincere 
regard,  thy  affectionate  friend  and  cousin, 

Wm.  Hunt. 


86  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

TO    THE    SAME. 

Liverpool,  1st  mo.  11th,  1772. 

It  is  with  feeling  nearness  and  uniting 
regard  I  now  salute  my  dearly  beloved 
cousin,  letting  him  know  that,  through 
merciful  regard,  we  are  favoured  with 
health,  and  have  made  a  considerable  pro- 
gress in  this  nation.  I  received  two  very 
agreeable  letters  from  thee,  one  dated  in 
the  fifth  month  and  the  other  in  the  tenth. 
The  real  satisfaction  and  comfort  they  gave 
me,  none  but  a  second  self  can  judge.  The 
cordial  notes  of  true  friendship  in  the  union 
of  soul,  from  feeling  connections  expressed, 
were  truly  satisfactory.  And,  dear  cousin, 
though  we  have  many  weary  steps  and  soli- 
tary moments,  deep  wadings  and  close 
exercises  in  our  pilgrimage  through  this 
land,  yet  being  nearly  united,  and  my  com- 
panion very  aifectionate,  respectful,  and 
kind,  makes  it  much  easier.  May  we,  dear 
cousin,  dwell  deep  in  the  pure  root  from 
whence  all  our  fresh  springs  arise,  and 
where  the  fountain  of  living  water  is 
known,  that  our  habitation  may  flourish, 
the  true  Shepherd  of  Israel  delighting  to 


CORRESPONDENCE.  87 

bring  us  to  the  fold  where  we  may  feed  on 
heavenly  bread,  and  lie  down  under  the 
shadow  of  his  wing  with  true  delight,  know- 
ing him  to  be  the  staff  and  stay  of  our 
minds,  where  we  may  not  only  pass  over 
Jordan,  and  wrestle  for  the  blessing,  but 
make  war  against  the  spirit  of  this  world 
and  the  deceitfulness  thereof,  which  is  hid 
in  the  mystery  of  iniquity,  to  betray  the 
seed  of  life,  and  lull  the  mind  into  a  de- 
ceitful peace;  to  withhold  the  joy  of  salva- 
tion from  our  souls,  and  to  prevent  the  Sun 
of  Righteousness  from  rising  with  healing 
balm  to  all  our  wounds.  Very  amiable  is 
the  beauty  of  that  fellowship  and  oneness 
w^hich  I  feel  to  thee ;  may  it  ever  tend  to 
sink  our  minds  deeper  to  the  original 
source  from  whence  it  receives  its  being: 
then  shall  the  cords  of  our  unity  grow 
stronger  and  stronger,  until  the  winding-up 
of  our  probation  here,  and  our  arrival  at 
the  desired  port,  to  partake  of  the  full  frui- 
tion with  cemented  spirits  made  perfect  by 
faith  in  the  promises. 

Sweet  is  often  the  revival  in  my  memory 
of  the  many  precious  and  pleasant  moments 
we   have   had   together    from    our    youth. 


«8  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

With  united  regard  to  thy  wife,  I  remain, 
affectionately,  thine  in  the  love  of  the  truth. 

Wm.  Hunt. 

to  the  same. 

Colchester,  6th  mo.  25th,  1772. 
Truly  united  cousin, — In  the  continued 
feeling  of  true  brotherly  regard,  in  the 
heavenly  relation  of  the  inner  man,  accord- 
ing to  the  tender  mercies  of  our  God,  I 
salute  thee,  and  inform  thee  that  we  are  in 
health.  I  received  thy  very  acceptable 
letter  of  the  third  month,  which  ministered 
humbling  satisfaction  to  my  mind  in  the 
sense  of  the  aboundings  of  that  union  which 
is  pure.  We  parted  with  dear  cousin  John 
two  days  since,*  who  then  was  as  well  as 
usual.  He  has  great  and  acceptable  service 
here.  The  singularity  of  his  appearance  is 
not  only  strange,  but  very  exercising  to 
many  valuable  Friends  who  have  had 
several  opportunities  of  conference  with 
him.      The    purity   of   his   ministry   gains 


*  Meaning,  no  doubt,  John  Woolman,  who  had  then  re- 
cently arrived  in  England. 


CORRESPONi)ENCE.  89 

universal  approbation.  I  hope  he  stands 
on  that  foundation  which  will  bear  him 
through  all.  He  is  now  going  toward 
Yorkshire,  and  we  are  bending  for  E'or- 
wich,  in  company  with  Sarah  and  Deborah 
Morris.  Since  I  wrote  to  thee  from  Liver- 
pool, in  the  first  month,  we  have  been 
through  England,  which  was  a  laborious 
exercising  journey ;  but  Divine  help  was 
near  to  support,  and  enabled  us  to  pass 
through  many  trying  dispensations ;  blessed 
be  His  holy  name  who  is  worthy  to  have 
the  first  fruit  of  all  our  labours.  We  now 
propose,  if  the  Lord  opens  the  way  accord- 
ing to  present  prospects,  shortly  to  embark 
for  Holland.  Thus  I  give  thee  a  short  hint 
of  our  stepping  along.  I  shall  always  re- 
joice to  hear  from  thee  if  well,  and  to  sym- 
pathize with  thee  if  otherwise,  as  my  life  is 
so  much  wrapt  up  in  that  harmonious 
sweetness  of  which  we  so  often  partook, 
that  neither  length  of  time  nor  separation 
of  our  little  frames  in  the  least  abates  its 
circulation ;  but  with  renewed  satisfaction 
I  remember  the  pleasant  moments  we  have 
enjoyed  together.     Please  to  give  my  love 


90  MEMOIRS    OF    WlLLIAxM    HUNT. 

to  thy  dear  wife  and  all  our  relations.     In 
affectionate  nearness,  thy  loving  cousin, 

Wm.  Hunt. 

to  the  same. 

EoTTERDAM,  8th  mo.  7th,  1772. 

In  a  renewed  sense  of  that  goodness 
under  whose  sweetening  influence  we  have 
had  many  gracious  united  seasons,  I  dearly 
salute  thee,  and  inform  thee  that,  through 
Divine  regard,  we  are  in  health.  Ahout 
ten  days  ago  we  embarked  for  Holland,  had 
a  good  passage  to  Amsterdam,  where  we 
stayed  some  days,  and  then  came  to  this 
place.  The  number  of  Friends  in  this  land 
is  but  small ;  yet  a  few  there  are  who  re- 
ceived us  gladly,  to  whom  I  trust  our 
labour  of  love  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel 
Avill  be  profitable  and  strengthening. 

Beloved  cousin,  as  thou  art  often  a  sub- 
ject of  my  solid  remembrance,  with  true 
desire  that  thou  mayest  experience  the  dew 
of  heaven  to  refresh  the  little  plant  of  re- 
nown, I  thought  it  might  be  acceptable  to 
hear  from  us  that  the  Shepherd  of  Israel  is 
still  near  wherever  his  voice  in  wisdom 
directs   our   feet;  blessed   be  his  gracious 


CORRESPONDENCE.  91 

name.  Mayest  tliou  attend  to  it,  to  the 
laying  of  a  good  foundation  against  the 
time  to  come,  when  all  sublunary  good 
shall  disappear.  This  is  indeed  the  crown 
of  all  our  labours,  that  when  he  shall  appear 
we  may  be  like  him,  fit  for  the  Father's 
mansion.  Let  not  the  perishing  things  of 
this  world  deprive  us  of  so  great  a  weight 
of  glory.  I  expect  our  stay  here  will  not  be 
long,  and  may  let  thee  know  further  in  due 
time.  S.  Emlen,  who  is  now  with  us,  and 
my  dear  companion,  join  in  love  to  thee 
and  thy  wife.  In  haste,  and  with  affec- 
tionate nearness,  thy  sincere  friend  and 
cousin  in  every  distant  land. 

Wm.  Hunt. 

Amsterdam,  8th  mo.  18th,  1772. 

My  dearly  beloved  relations  :* — In  a  fresh 
sense  of  that  goodness  which  everywhere 
brings  the  whole  family  of  obedient  chil- 

*  The  four  preceding  letters  appear  to  have  been  ad- 
dressed to  Uriah  Woolman ;  but  the  present  one  was  evi- 
dently designed  for  two  or  more  relations,  of  whom,  pos- 
sibly, Uriah  Woolman  may  have  been  one ;  but  I  find 
nothing  in  the  letter  or  its  address  which  indicates  who 
those  relations  were. 


92  MEMOIllS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

dren  into  one  spirit  and  communion  ol 
life,  wherein  they  rejoice  with  exceeding 
joy  one  in  another,  whether  absent  or  pre- 
sent in  the  little  frames  of  declining  clay ; 
in  this  pure  life  they  are  fed  and  their  souls 
nourished  by  the  supplies  of  the  fresh 
springs:  being  fitly  framed  in  mind,  they 
become  God's  building,  formed  throughout 
after  his  image,  in  righteousness,  purity, 
faith,  patience,  hope,  and  charity,  wdiich  is 
the  end  of  the  commandments.  Out  of  a 
pure  mind  I  nearly  salute  you,  and  inform 
that  we  are  all  well.  I  wrote  of  our  inten- 
tion of  coming  to  Holland,  soon  after  which 
we  embarked  with  Samuel  Emlen,  who 
stayed  in  Holland  about  seven  days,  and  then 
returned  for  England.  At  our  first  coming 
it  seemed  to  be  my  business  to  example 
the  people  to  silence,  a  practice  with  which 
many  under  our  name,  as  well  as  others, 
are  too  little  acquainted,  and  so  miss  the 
advantage  arising  from  the  worship  in  spirit 
and  in  truth,  which  only  is  and  can  be  pro- 
fitable. After  we  had  passed  through  that 
dispensation  of  silence,  which  continued  in 
this  city  for  five  meetings,  some  of  which 
were  very  large,  being  attended  by  other 


CORRESPONDENCE.  93 

people,  the  Lord  graciously  opened  tlie 
spring  of  true  ministry,  and  enabled  us  to 
speak  of  those  things  which  appertain  to 
his  kingdom ;  blessed  be  His  worthj^  name 
who  is  still  the  sufficiency  of  his  depending 
ones  who  lean  upon  him.  There  is  a  sober, 
seeking  people  in  this  land,  though  not 
gathered  to  us  as  a  people,  with  whom  we 
had  many  comfortable  seasons  in  meetings 
and  in  families.  We  are  this  day  intending 
to  take  shipping  for  England.  I  have  sent 
a  letter  for  my  dear  wife,*  &c.  I  conclude, 
your  affectionate  friend  and  cousin, 

Wm.  Hunt. 


*  It  is  an  affecting  consideration  that  this  letter  to  his 
beloved  wife  cannot  have  reached  her  until  some  time 
after  he  was  consigned  to  the  grave.  Residing  as  she  did 
in  the  interior  of  North  Carolina,  several  weeks  must  have 
been  required  to  convey  a  letter  from  Amsterdam  to  her 
place  of  abode ;  and,  as  he  died  about  three  weeks  after 
the  date  of  the  above  letter,  it  is  not  improbable  that  this 
communication — certainly  one  of  the  last  he  ever  addressed 
to  her — may  have  been  received  at  the  same  time  with  the 
mournful  intelligence  that  she  would  see  him  no  more  in 
mutability,     (See  page  150.) 


94  MEMOIRS   OF  WILLIAM   HUNT. 

TO    ZACHARIAS   DICKS. 

The  following  letter  appears  without 
date,  but  as  the  Friend  to  whom  it  was 
addressed  bore  "William  Hunt  company  in 
the  year  1767,  through  a  considerable  part 
of  his  visit  to  the  Middle  and  Eastern  pro- 
vinces, now  States,  it  may  be  supposed 
that  it  was  written  some  time  prior  to  that 
journey.  The  allusion  to  him  as  a  com- 
panion probably  relates  to  some  minor  ser- 
vices of  which  no  record  appears  in  the 
MS.  volume. 

Dear  friend  Zacharias  Dicks : — ISTot  hav- 
ing opportunity  to  converse,  I  send  this 
little  ambassador  to  convey  some  fruit  I 
lately  got  from  the  holy  land,  a  little  spike- 
nard and  myrrh,  the  choice  spices  with 
which  our  Lord  was  anointed  before  he 
passed  through  that  painful  dispensation  of 
suffering. 

My  mind  hath  been  in  a  true  calm  and 
quiet  for  some  days,  free  from  tempest  or 
tossing  of  any  kind,  so  that  I  was  ready  to 
conclude  that  I  should  have  no  more  to  do 
than  sometimes  to  eat  this  pleasant  fruit, 
and  drink  of  the  well  that  stands  in  the 


CORRESPONDENCE.  95 

midst  of  the  court  of  God.  But  as  I  was 
thus  musing  with  deep  admiration,  and 
humble  adoration  to  the  great  name  that 
had  freed  me  from  all  my  great  and  sore 
trials,  which,  the  Lord  only  knows,  were 
many  and  grievous  to  bear,  I  thought  1 
spied  a  little  opening  like  that  which  thou 
knowest  lies  under  the  threshold  of  the 
house  of  God,  and  it  ran  toward  the  south, 
and  pointed  toward  the  north,  like  the 
glancing  of  a  candle  by  a  glass  window, 
that  some  of  these  fruits  must  be  conveyed 
to  those  inhabitants ;  and  as  thou  art  a 
choice  companion  to  me  of  God,  in  the 
moving  of  that  endeared  goodwill  which 
had  subsisted  between  us  from  the  begin- 
ning, I  give  the  hint,  to  the  end  that  thou 
may  est  keep  steady  under  the  preparing 
hand,  that  when  the  full  time  comes  thou 
mayest  be  ready  to  gird  on  the  instrument 
of  war,  and  appear  as  a  soldier  well  dis- 
ciplined therein.  I  am  at  all  times  thy 
assured  friend,  "Wm.  Hunt. 

In  the  MS.  volume,  to  which  allusion  has 
been  several  times  made,  we  find  the  sub- 
joined notice  of  a  testimony  delivered  on 


96  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

the  18th  of  second  month,  1770,  at  a  First- 
day  meeting  in  ISTorth  Carolina.  The  date 
of  this  communication,  we  may  observe, 
was  a  few  years  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
War;  and  there  can  be  little  doubt  that 
numbers  of  those  who  were  then  present 
were  witnesses  about  ten  years  afterwards 
to  the  destructive  operations  of  the  con- 
tending armies. 

"  William  Hunt,  in  his  testimony,  which 
was  very  extensive,  at  that  time,  after  ear- 
nestly exhorting  us  individually  to  examine 
our  foundation  whereon  we  had  built,  or 
were  building,  in  urging  the  necessity  of 
such  an  examination,  used  the  following 
expressions : — '  The  Lord  will  visit  this  land 
with  his  judgments,  and  then  it  will  be 
known  who  hath  built  on  the  sure  founda- 
tion and  who  hath  not ;  for  in  that  time  of 
deep  trial  the  hypocrites,  formalists,  and 
nominal  Quakers  will  not  only  suffer,  but 
many  will  perish  and  come  to  naught, 
while  those  who  have  built  on  the  sure 
Rock  of  Ages  will  be  preserved  by  him  in 
the  midst  of  those  trials  as  in  the  hollow  of 
his  hand.     And  there  are  men  grown,  and 


CORRESPONDENCE.  97 

now  within  the  audience  of  my  voice,  that 
will  see  these  things  come  to  pass.'  " 

The  following  letters  were  evidently- 
written  during  the  last  journey,  partly  in 
America  and  partly  in  Europe. 

TO   ELEAZAR  HUNT. 

Philadelphia,  25tli  of  4th  month,  1771. 

Dearly  beloved  brother : — By  these  thou 
mayest  understand  that  we  are  favoured 
with  a  good  state  of  health,  after  a  laborious 
journey  in  a  cold  country.*  And  although 
our  stay  in  this  land  has  been  much  longer 
than  I  expected  when  I  parted  with  thee, 
yet  I  dare  not  call  in  question  the  propriety 
of  our  stay  being  consistent  with  the  Divine 
will,  since  I  have  had  to  believe  that  I  have 
passed  through  some  dispensations  which, 
if  rightly  applied,  will  be  of  lasting  ad- 
vantage, as  preparatory  for  further  service, 
having  sometimes  been  favoured  with  the 
opening  of  the  heavenly  mystery  and  glory 
of  the  gospel  beyond  what  I  ever  had  be- 


*  The  winter  of  1770-71  was  chiefly  occupied  in  visit- 
ing New  England,  the  climate  of  which  could  not  fail  to  be 
severely  felt  by  an  inhabitant  of  North  Carolina. 


y©  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

fore.  Yet  I  would  rather  speak  of  those 
things  which  are  my  constant  companions, 
— poverty,  weakness,  distress,  nakedness, 
the  wormwood  and  the  gall ;  my  soul  hath 
them  still  in  remembrance,  and  is  deeply 
humbled,  being  mostly  led  in  a  close,  plain 
way.  Though  there  are  a  number  that  say 
amen  to  the  truth,  yet  I  think  no  age  ever 
afforded  an  instance  more  clear  of  the  true 
ministry  being  a  spectacle  to  angels  and 
to  men  than  this.  Our  esteemed  friends 
Samuel  Neale  and  Joel  Oxley  came  to  this 
city  about  three  days  ago,  and  gave  us  a 
comfortable  account  of  your  state. 

Dear  brother,  my  mind  is  often  toward 
you  in  the  love  and  beauty  of  gospel  regard, 
with  strong  desires  for  your  persevering  by 
a  gentle  advancement  in  the  heavenly 
march  after  the  Lamb,  keeping  under  that 
pure  and  holy  sense  through  which  we  have 
often  been  baptized  into  one  body,  and  be- 
come heirs  of  the  true  mystery  where  the 
treasures  of  wisdom  remain,  in  the  sense 
whereof  my  spirit  is  deeply  bowed ;  and  in 
language  of  the  sincerest  affection  I  con- 
clude, and  desire  that  we  may  be  com- 
panions   in    the    faith,    tribulations,    and 


CORRESPONDENCE.  99 

patience  of  Jesus  our  Holy  Head.  My  very 
dear  love  to  thy  wife  and  all  the  children, 
and  to  Silas  and  Mary  Williams.  Thy 
brother,  William  Hunt. 

TO   THE   SAME. 
Dublin,  29th  of  4th  month,  1772. 

Dear  and  well-beloved  brother : — Though 
thy  tedious  silence  has  been  a  matter  of 
uneasiness,  and  query  what  is  the  cause ; 
since  our  interest  in  each  other  is  twofold, 
having  sprung  from  the  same  parentage, 
and  been  brought  forth  in  the  immortal 
seed,  wherein  is  the  union  of  spirits  in  the 
unction  of  pure  love,  we  cannot  but  travail 
deeply  for  preservation ;  and,  as  this  ardent 
concern  prevails,  it  is  wont  to  impart  cor- 
dial notes  of  encouragement,  caution,  or 
counsel,  as  the  fresh  spring  shall  open 
celestial  converse  in  our  minds.  Yet  the 
salutation  of  my  very  dear  and  united  love 
often  wafts  over  the  great  ocean  to  thee 
and  all  thine,  with  true  desire  that  you  may 
be  gathered  into  the  quiet  habitations  of 
safety,  and  that  thou,  beloved  brother, 
mayest  be    kept    green   in   old   age   by  a 


100  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

continual  supply  of  nourishment  from  the 
root. 

As  for  us,  our  portion  is  in  deaths  oft, 
and  perils  very  many ;  yet  Divine  help  has 
been  hitherto  near  to  support  and  enable  us 
to  bear  a  plain  testimony  for  truth,  which  I 
hope  is  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  sincere  in 
heart,  who  see  the  necessity  thereof,  the 
united  help  of  whose  spirits  has  been  very 
consolatory  in  this  strange  land.  Cousin 
Thomas  joins  in  the  salutation  of  endeared 
love  to  thee,  thy  wife,  and  all  the  children, 
with  Silas  and  Mary.  I  conclude,  in  affec- 
tionate nearness,  thy  loving  brother, 

Wm.  Hunt. 

The  subjoined  letter,  addressed  to  Rachel 
Mills  and  Sarah  Thatcher,  is  without  date, 
but,  from  some  passages  it  contains,  seems 
to  have  been  written  in  the  autumn  of 
1770. 

It  hath  been  often  in  my  mind  since  I 
left  my  habitation  to  visit  my  dear  friends 
and  companions,  letting  them  know  how  it 
fares  with  us.  "We  have  mostly  enjoyed  a 
good   state   of  health;    and   though  many 


CORRESPONDENCE.  101 

deep  exercises  attend  us,  yet  we  have  had 
many  seals  of  the  Divine  owning  power  and 
presence,  so  as  to  confirm  my  mind  that  I 
was  in  the  way  that  was  well  pleasing  to 
the  Master.  May  we  ever  be  content  to 
stand  in  our  lots,  and  join  in  a  holy  con- 
cern to  come  up  in  perfect  obedience  to  the 
pure  will,  so  far  as  it  is  made  known,  that 
we  may  be  counted  worthy  to  be  heirs  of 
the  mystery  and  fellowship  of  truth,  and 
also  receive  the  evidence  of  our  eternal  in- 
heritance. 

Dear  friends,  I  very  often  remember  with 
what  sweetness  and  unity  we  travelled  in 
that  mighty  service  of  visiting  families,  so 
that  we  may  say,  in  truth,  -Precious  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Lord  is  the  fellowship  of  his 
children,  and  sweet  the  remembrance  one 
of  another,  because  the  odour  of  his  oint- 
ment sendeth  forth  a  good  smell. 

"We  have  not  had  many  appointed  meet- 
ings, but  happen  to  fall  in  with  preparative 
and  Monthly  Meetings.  We  are  now  on 
the  way  to  Philadelphia,  and  from  thence 
expect  to  proceed  along  the  sea-shore 
through  the  Jerseys  to  ISTew  York,  from 
thence  to  Rhode  Island ;  and  there  we  in- 


102  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

tend,  if  the  Lord  will,  to  embark  so  soon  as 
it  appears  safe.  I  believe  it  will  not  be  un- 
pleasant to  you  to  hear  that  my  companion 
proves  very  agreeable.  He  has  several 
times  appeared  in  the  ministry,  to  my  own 
and  friends'  good  satisfaction.  With  the 
salutation  of  affectionate  regard  to  you  and 
your  families,  I  am  your  friend, 

William  Hunt. 

to  thomas  thornburgh,  sen. 

York,  England,  Gth  mo.  27,  1771. 

Dearly  beloved  friend : — As  a  feeling  of 
deep  regard  often  revives  thee  very  lively 
in  memory,  with  a  degree  of  that  uniting 
sweetness  which  I  had  for  thee  from  the 
beginning,  in  my  very  childish  years,  and 
which  hath  ever  since  accompanied  our 
spirits  through  the  different  scenes  of  life, 
that  have  attended  the  little  frame  in  the 
torrent  of  time  ;  I  therein  now  (though  in  a 
far-distant  and  strange  land)  very  feelingly 
and  affectionately  salute  thee  in  the  cement- 
ings  of  the  pure  seed  of  life,  which  still  re- 
mains near  to  be  our  support  through  every 
trying  dispensation,  and  which  hath  abun- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  103 

dantly  opened  our  way  in  the  glorious 
mystery  of  the  gospel  beyond  my  expecta- 
tion, for  which,  with  every  favour  received, 
I  desire  to  offer  that  acceptable  sacrifice, — a 
broken  heart  and  a  bowed  mind. 

Mayest  thou,  dear  Thomas,  with  humbling 
concern,  press  after  that  holy  sense  and 
savour  of  life  wherein  are  safety,  preserva- 
tion, and  quiet  dwelling.  As  to  thy  son, 
let  it  suffice  he  is  well  in  the  seed;  we 
travel  in  true  unity  and  perfect  harmony, 
yet  not  without  trials;  but  true  love  in 
the  union  of  souls  overcomes  all,  in  that 
which  feels  beyond  the  expression  of 
words. 

I  shall  draw  to  a  conclusion  in  true  sym- 
pathy, with  desires  that  mercy  and  truth 
may  be  the  vouchsafed  companions  of  my 
friend  till  the  curtain  of  eternal  night  may 
be  drawn,  the  evening  sun  be  set,  and  he 
bid  adieu  to  the  realms  of  woe  and  bitter- 
ness; but  the  nobler  part  ascend  to  its 
heavenly  mansion,  and  the  glory  of  its  im- 
mortal inheritance. 

William  Hunt, 


104  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT. 

TO   THE   SAME. 

Lancashire,  5th  mo.  19,  1772. 

Dearly  united  friend : — My  love  and  life 
in  tlie  pure  unchangeable  truth  salute  thee, 
wherein  my  spirit  has  been  enfolded  in 
thine  through  many  salutations  ;  yea,  when 
the  adversary  determined  to  cut  off  thy 
hope  from  the  land  of  the  living,  and  sepa- 
rate thee  from  thy  brethren  in  the  mystery 
of  faith  and  patience,  when  the  powers  of 
darkness  wrought  and  were  strong;  then 
mine  eye  saw  thee  a  prisoner  of  hope,  and 
the  strong  arm  of  the  Lord  underneath,  to 
bear  thee  above  the  floods  of  many  afflic- 
tions ;  and  my  soul  loved  thee  and  clave  to 
thee  in  that  day,  because  of  thy  distresses, 
and  was  gathered  in  the  holy  union  of 
hidden  life  to  thy  afflicted  mind.  These 
things  have  often  turned  in  my  mind  since 
I  last  saw  thee,  with  sincere  desires  that 
thou  mayest  experience  all  those  turnings 
sanctified  to  the  preparing  of  our  immortal 
salvation,  for  that  part  which  hath  sojourned 
through  a  series  of  probations  before  thou 
art  numbered  to  thine  appointed  lot.  I 
often  remember  thee  with  feeling  nearness, 


CORRESPONDENCE.  105 

fancying  myself  enclosed  in  thy  arms, 
according  to  thy  wonted  kindness  and 
affection  from  my  very  childhood,  which  I 
trust  always  to  remember  with  gratitude. 

Perhaps  thou  wilt  like  to  hear  from  me 
respecting  thy  son,  or  rather  mine,  since  I 
have  borne  him  in  the  bond  of  the  gospel. 
It  is  with  humbling  thankfulness  to  the 
Father  of  all  our  mercies  that  I  may  inform 
thee  I  have  my  desires  to  him  to  a  wish ;  he 
submits  in  all  things  as  a  son  to  a  father, 
grows  in  experience,  and  appears  very 
prettily  at  times  in  a  small  testimony, 
wherein  he  is  favoured  with  the  deep  sym- 
pathy of  sensible  friends.  Perhaps  few,  if 
any,  have  travelled  so  long  with  less  diffi- 
culty and  more  harmony. 

I  received  thy  kind  and  truly  acceptable 
letter  of  the  eleventh  month  last,  which 
ministered  fresh  consolation  to  my  low  and 
often  dejected  mind,  that  I  was  still  re- 
tained in  memory  and  fellowship,  which  I 
esteem  above  all  earthly  things. 

Remember  us  very  dearly  to  Henry 
Mills,  his  wife  and  children,  sister  Ann 
Hunt  and  hers,  with  thy  own.  I  hope  I 
need  not  put  thee  in  mind  of  advising  my 


106  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

clear  wife  and  little  flock,  giving  them  such 
advice  as  they  shall  need  in  spiritual  or 
temporal  afikirs. 

The  love  which  has  subsisted  between  us 
and  with  us  from  the  beginning  will  descend 
to  our  oflspring,  as  it  is  often  a  solid  satis- 
faction to  my  mind  to  have  a  branch  of  the 
root,  to  whom  my  life  is  so  nearly  gathered 
in  the  holy  mystery  and  union  of  pure 
gospel  fellowship.  And  now,  dear  Thomas, 
I  must  wind  up  the  chain  of  scribbling, 
take  my  leave,  and  bid  thee  adieu.  I  rest 
thy  poor  little  friend,  but  true  and  faithful 
companion  in  my  exercises.  That  we  may 
continue  in  faith  and  patience  which  hopeth 
to  the  end,  which  crowns  all,  is  the  travail 
in  spirit  of  thine  in  the  love  of  truth, 

William  Hunt. 

• 

The  following  letter  from  William  Hunt 
to  his  children  appears,  from  its  date,  to 
have  been  written  about  two  weeks  after 
leaving  home  upon  his  last  journey,  and, 
consequently,  after  taking  a  leave  which 
proved  to  be  a  final  one  to  those  tender  ob- 
jects of  his  affection. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  107 

My  dear  children  : — There  is  a  deep  con- 
cern often  remains  on  ray  mind  for  you, 
that  you  may  grow  in  the  pure  truth,  and 
witness  the  rewards  of  perfect  obedience 
thereto,  which  is  hfe  forever ;  and  then  you 
will  be  instructed  to  keep  clear  of  all  evil 
conversation,  and  to  seek  after  that  which 
is  good.  Be  at  peace  among  yourselves. 
Eemember  not  to  concern  yourselves  with 
other  people's  afiairs,  or  to  talk  of  them ; 
but  diligently  mind  and  look  after  your 
own  business,  that  you  may  live  in  credit 
and  free  from  want.  Mind  your  reading, 
and  improve  what  you  can  in  writing ;  but 
above  all  things  seek  to  be  acquainted  with 
the  truth,  which  will  lead  you  into  all  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  virtues.  The  God  of  my 
life,  whom  I  have  loved  all  my  days,  keep 
and  preserve  you  to  the  honour  and  praise 
of  his  great  name,  to  whom  I  leave  and 
commend  you.     Your  aflectionate  father, 

W.  Hunt. 

The  3d  of  11th  mo.,  1770. 


108  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

TO    THE    BAME. 
Philadelphia,  4th  of  5t]i  month,  1771. 

My  dear  and  well-beloved  children : — 
Feeling  m}^  mind  often  drawn  toward  you 
with  deep  concern  for  your  preservation  in 
the  pure  and  holy  truth,  that  your  tender 
minds  may  not  be  drawn  away  into  the 
spirit  of  this  world,  unto  unprofitable  com- 
pany, after  youthful  lusts,  in  vanity,  pride, 
and  disobedience,  which  lead  down  to  the 
chambers  of  death;  wherefore,  my  dear 
children,  seek  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  that  you 
may  be  a  comfort  to  your  tender  mother. 
Live  in  love.  Keep  out  of  all  jars  and  un- 
seemly conversation,  with  loud  talking.  If 
you  diligently  observe  this  my  counsel,  then 
will  you  make  my  heart  glad  and  my  spirit 
to  rejoice  for  3'our  preservation  in  the  God 
of  my  salvation,  who  hath  called  me  from 
you  for  the  glorious  hope  of  the  gospel  of 
peace.  But  if,  otherwise,  you  run  into 
these  things  which  bring  dishonour  to  him 
and  his  truth,  you  will  be  a  means  of 
bringing  my  gray  hairs  with  sorrow  to  the 
grave. 

I  am,  with  my  dear  companion,  well,  and 


CORRESPONDENCE.  109 

we  intend,  if  the  Lord  will,  to  embark 
[shortly]  for  England.  That  the  Lord  of 
my  life,  who  visited  me  w^hen  very  young, 
and  brought  me  into  the  glorious  habitation 
of  his  truth,  may  reveal  in  you  the  same 
mystery,  is  the  fervent  prayer  of  your  affec- 
tionate parent,  W.  H. 

TO   THE   SAME. 

Liverpool,  1st  mo.  8th,  1772. 

My  dearly-beloved  children : — It  is  with 
the  most  deep  and  inward  concern  of 
parental  affection  that  I  now  put  pen  to 
paper  in  order  to  convey  some  hints,  not 
only  as  a  token  of  true  love,  but  of  concern 
for  your  present  and  lasting  well-being.  In 
the  first  place,  I  am  fully  confirmed  that 
the  God  of  truth  and  perfect  wisdom  hath 
required  my  absence  from  you  for  the  testi- 
mony of  truth,  which  in  the  richness  of  his 
love  he  hath  given  me  to  bear  before  the 
nations  of  many  people;  and  it  is  with  joy 
unspeakable,  in  the  bowels  of  feeling  ten- 
derness and  true  regard  toward  you,  that 
my  mind  is  often  turned  toward  you,  with 
fervent  breathing  to  the  God  of  all  grace 


110  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

and  glory,  that  he  may  be  pleased  in  his 
unmerited  mercy  to  extend  the  visitation 
of  his  love  so  efiectually  as  to  gather  you  to 
the  true  knowledge  of  himself,  and  keep 
you  through  all  the  slippery  spots  of  youth, 
that  not  one  of  you  may  ever  be  a  dis- 
honour to  His  great  name,  or  reproach  the 
Lord's  blessed  truth,  for  which  glorious 
cause  I  am  now  in  a  distant  land,  separated 
from  social  converse  with  the  nearest  en- 
joyments. But  ail  these  wants  are  supplied 
by  that  peace  which  remains  in  Him  with 
whom  all  fulness  dwells.  And  now,  dear 
children,  I  would  earnestly  remind  you 
carefully  to  attend  to  the  advice  of  your 
affectionate  mother  in  things  both  civil  and 
religious,  as  her  experience  is  much  more 
than  yours :  be  sure  to  give  it  a  due  weight 
in  your  minds,  that  the  blessing  of  Him  who 
lives  forever  may  rest  upon  all  your  dwell- 
ings.    Your  affectionate  parent, 

W.  Hunt. 

TO   THE    SAME. 

Amsterdam,  17th  of  8th  mo.,  1772. 

My   dear   children : — Being   desirous   to 
maintain    an    intimate    acquaintance   with 


CORRESPONDENCE.  Ill 

you  in  every  distant  land  where  my  lot  is 
cast  for  the  work's  sake,  whereunto  Divine 
Wisdom,  in  the  riches  of  his  mercy,  has 
seen  meet  to  call  me  on  his  errands,  that 
my  care  for  you  in  all  things  may  fully 
appear,  I  send  you  a  token,  not  only  of  re- 
gard, but  of  deep  concern  that  you  may 
grow  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  and  have 
his  holy  dread  always  before  your  eyes,  that 
thereby  you  may  be  enabled  to  refrain  from 
all  youthful  lusts  and  wrong  things.  Keep- 
ing in  innocency,  you  will  feed  in  the 
valleys  of  deep  humility,  and  drink  of  the 
brook  which  is  the  fountain  of  living  waters 
in  the  truly  humbled  heart  and  bowed 
mind,  wherein  the  Lord  delights  to  dwell 
by  his  power  and  spirit,  to  refine,  wash,  and 
purify  from  all  the  leprosy  of  sin  and  vile 
affections  that  rule  in  the  children  of  dis- 
obedience, who  are  led  by  the  spirit  of  this 
world.  Oh,  my  children,  let  these  things 
sink  deep  in  your  hearts,  and  treasure  them 
up  in  the  secret  of  your  minds,  that  I  may 
have  joy  in  you,  and  that  you  may  rejoice 
in  time  to  come  in  that  you  gave  up  the 
bloom  of  life  to  serve  the  Lord.  Eemember 
the  former  advices  which  I  have  given  you. 


112  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

Adhere,  I  beseech  you,  to  the  repeated 
counsel  and  admonition  of  your  affectionate 
mother,  and  count  it  none  of  the  least  of 
favours  to  you  that  she  is  still  continued 
with  you  through  much  weakness  and 
affliction  of  body.  This  is  the  Lord's 
doing,  and  ought  to  be  humbling  to  your 
minds. 

We  are  well  in  every  way,  blessed  be  the 
great  name  of  our  God,  who  is  our  staff  and 
shield,  bow  and  battle-axe,  whithersoever 
he  directs  our  feet.  His  sweetening  power 
and  presence  accompany  our  minds.  Glory, 
worship,  and  praise  to  Him  that  lives  for- 
ever. Amen.  We  intend  to  take  shipping 
to-mon'ow  for  England.  Your  affectionate 
father,  W.  Hunt. 

By  recurring  to  the  memoir,  we  find  that 
only  eleven  days  intervened  between  the 
date  of  the  last  of  the  above  letters  and  the 
time  when  the  writer  was  seized  by  his  final 
disorder.  This  communication  was,  there- 
fore, probably  the  last  Avhich  he  addressed 
to  his  children.  N'early  eighty  years  have 
passed  away  since  the  last  of  these  letters 
was  written ;  and  of  the  children  to  whom 


CORRESPONDENCE.  113 

they  were  addressed  one  still  is,  or  recently 
was,  among  the  living.  His  son  N'athan,  a 
worthy  and  highly- valued  minister,  attended 
some  sittings  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  Kew 
Garden,  [N'orth  Carolina,  in  the  autumn  of 
1849.  Our  friend  Nathan  Hunt,  then  up- 
ward of  ninety  years  of  age,  evidently  re- 
tained his  religious  sensibility  unimpaired, 
though,  from  the  encroachments  of  age,  his 
physical  as  well  as  mental  powers  in  other 
respects  had  greatly  declined.  He  was 
manifestly  regarded  by  his  friends  as  a 
patriarch  in  the  church,  worthy  of  double 
honour. 

TO  THE  QUARTERLY  MEETING  OF  MINISTERS 
AND  ELDERS  AT  NEW  GARDEN,  GUILFORD 
COUNTy,  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Dublin,  Ireland,  26th  of  4th  mo.,  1772. 

Most  dear  and  inwardly  beloved  Friends, 
fathers  and  mothers,  brothers  and  sisters, 
companions  and  yoke-fellows,  in  the  pure 
mystery  of  the  gospel  relation,  with  whom 
my  life  in  Christ  remains  hid,  so  that  time 
and  distance  only  serve  to  strengthen  the 
cords  and  renew  the  cordial  notes  of  celes- 
tial   converse,    in    the    fresh    spring    and 


114  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

unction  of  true  love.  God  only  knows,  you 
are  written  on  the  table  of  my  heart,  and 
printed  in  the  secret  of  my  mind,  where  I 
often  read  with  great  consolation  in  the 
midst  of  many  trials,  which,  indeed,  have 
not  been  few  since  we  parted  with  you  and 
every  connection  in  this  world.  But  He 
who  raised  our  Lord  from  the  dead  hath 
strengthened  us  by  the  renewing  of  our  in- 
ward man  in  himself,  in  whom  we  experience 
sufficiency,  which  still  remains  equal  to 
every  allotment  pointed  out  in  his  wisdom  ; 
I  also  at  times  feel  the  help  of  your  spirits 
ascend  as  sweet  incense  from  the  holy  altar. 
The  concurrence,  also,  of  faithful  brethren 
here  with  our  service  hath  been  truly  com- 
fortable and  confirming,  that  the  God  of  all 
grace  and  glory  hath  not  only  called  us  into 
a  strange  land,  but  hath  owned  our  labours 
of  love  in  the  hope  of  the  gospel,  to  the  joy 
of  the  sincere  in  heart.  To  Him  that  is 
all  in  all  I  desire  ever  to  dedicate  the  first- 
fruits  of  all  my  labours,  who  is  worthy  of 
salvation  and  glory  forever.     Amen. 

And  now,  dearly  beloved,  and  longed-for 
in  the  holy  union  where  the  covenant  of 
our  spirits  stand  firm,  though  far  absent  in 


CORRESPONDENCE.  115 

body,  yet,  being  fitly  framed  according  to 
the  rule  and  measure  of  glory  which  our 
God  in  his  abundant  mercy  hath  revealed 
unto  us  through  the  spirit  of  his  beloved 
Son,  we  cannot  be  separated ;  but,  as  we 
draw  sap  from  the  root  that  bare  us,  we  are 
grafted  in  the  vine,  and  remain  members 
one  of  another,  feeding  at  the  same  table. 
Still,  I  have  nothing  to  communicate  but 
that  w^hich  you  have  known  from  the  be- 
ginning. Hold  fast,  I  beseech  you,  that 
which  you  have  received,  improving  in  the 
gift  as  workmen  that  need  not  be  ashamed, 
learning  how  to  divide  the  word  and  work 
aright,  discerning  w^hen  to  speak  and  when 
to  be  silent.  This  I  still  find  to  be  a  close 
thing ;  and  oh  that  they  who  are  elders  and 
companions  of  those  that  bear  the  ark  be- 
fore the  congregation  may  go  down  with 
them  into  Jordan,  and  see  the  wonders  of 
the  Most  High  in  the  deep,  dividing  the 
waters  in  the  holy  mystery  hither  and 
thither,  and  casting  up  a  way  for  the  seed 
of  promise  !  so  shall  they  be  endued  with  a 
sound  judgment  and  a  good  understanding, 
being  able  to  speak  a  word  in  season  to  the 
weary   travellers    who   may  be   sometimes 


116  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT. 

halting  behind  their  gifts;  also,  to  offer  a 
hint  of  advice,  caution,  and  counsel  to  such 
as  are  in  danger  of  moving  before  the  true 
anointing  of  the  pure  word  which  was  in 
the  beginning.  Thus  all  may  be  preserved 
in  the  comely  order  of  truth,  and  you 
flourish  as  by  the  fountains  and  fresh 
springs  of  Shiloh,  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit 
and  perfect  bond  of  consolation  one  in 
another.  And,  dearly  beloved,  I  entreat 
above  all  things  that  you  let  nothing  cold 
or  shy  prevail  among  you,  under  any  pre- 
tence whatsoever,  for  that  eateth  as  a 
canker  in  the  mystery  of  iniquity,  to  mar 
the  beauty  of  our  fellowship,  wherein  is 
beauty  and  strength.  I  speak  freely,  be- 
cause I  love  with  unfeigned  regard,  and 
believe  you  will  receive  this  little  offering, 
though  mean.  Yet  it  is  a  fragment  of  the 
abundance  which  is  often  treasured  up  in 
my  heart  toward  you.  May  it  be  received 
from  your  younger  brother  in  the  faith  and 
patience  which  hopeth  and  endureth  to  the 
end.  Farewell,  in  Him  in  whom  all  fulness 
dwells.  William  Hunt. 

The  first  of  the  following  letters  appears, 


CORRESPONDENCE.  117 

from  its  date,  to  have  been  written  in  his 
twentieth  year ;  yet  it  seems  to  have  been 
preceded  by  at  least  one  religious  visit  to 
distant  Friends.  Those  to  David  Brooks 
were  written  during  his  last  journey. 

TO   WILLIAM    STANLEY. 

10th  of  4tli  mo.,  1753. 

My  dear  and  w^ell-beloved  friend: — In 
the  sweetness  and  oneness  of  spirit  do  I 
salute  thee  at  this  time,  and  also  acquaint 
thee  that  I  am  reasonably  well  at  present, 
through  Divine  favour;  and  the  nearness 
and  dearness  that  I  feel  to  thee  cause  me 
oftentimes  to  retire  alone  in  secret,  where 
my  cup  is  made  to  overflow,  and  I  am  near 
in  spirit,  though  absent  in  body,  deprived 
of  the  sweet  conversation  one  with  another, 
which  seems,  I  think,  the  greatest  enjoy- 
ment we  have  in  this  life.  But,  oh,  my 
dear  friend,  great  hath  been  the  travail  and 
exercise  of  soul  and  spirit  which  I  have  had 
since  I  saw  thy  face, — so  great  that  some- 
times I  am  ready  to  give  up  the  cause  and 
conclude  I  never  shall  be  able  to  go  through 
80  great  and  fiery  a  trial.    Many  bitter  cups 


118  MEMOIKS    OF    WILLL\M    HUNT. 

have  I  drunk,  but  this  seems  the  bitterest 
that  ever  I  had,  there  being  provings  within 
and  trials  without,  which  bow  me  very  low 
into  the  deep,  so  that  I  could  desire  at 
times,  if  it  w^ere  my  dear  Eedeemer's  will, 
to  take  me  away  from  this  world,  and  put  a 
period  to  all  my  exercises  and  trials,  where 
I  might  remain  for  evermore ;  for  indeed 
I  feel  but  little  else  than  tribulation  and 
trials  in  this  life.  But,  my  loving  friend, 
the  Lord  hath  a  glorious  work  to  do  for  his 
holy  name  and  truth  upon  the  earth.  If  we 
can  be  so  wise  as  to  be  faithful  to  him,  he 
will  make  us  as  valiants  in  Israel  for  truth's 
cause.  Therefore,  be  not  discouraged  be- 
cause of  trials  that  abound  ;  for  know  this, 
the  Lord  will  have  a  proved  people  upon 
the  earth,  that  will  not  turn  their  backs  in 
the  day  of  battle ;  therefore  let  us  wait  in 
true  faith  and  patience  to  hear  the  still 
small  voice  that  speaks  when  the  mind  is 
brought  down  into  true  silence  of  all  flesh, 
drawn  from  earth  heavenward,  to  wait  upon 
the  Divine  Being,  to  feel  the  arising  of 
light  and  life  with  dominion,  which  will 
give  power  and  victory  over  every  unclean 
spirit,  and    chain  the   old   accuser  of  the 


COKRESPONDENCE.  119 

brethren.  So,  my  dear  and  well-esteemed 
friend  in  the  aboundino-s  of  sweet  love  and 
life,  do  I  write  these  few  words,  not  think- 
ing myself  worthy  to  advise  thee  in  these 
things ;  only  we  may  communicate  a  little 
to  each  other  concerning  our  pilgrimage 
through  this  vale  of  tears  and  tabernacle  of 
grief,  for  the  confirmation  and  consolation 
one  of  another  in  the  everlasting  truth  of 
our  God,  who  hath  made  known  the  riches 
of  his  goodness  unto  us.  Therefore,  my 
beloved  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  us  not 
think  that  he  has  forsaken  us  because  he  is 
pleased  to  bring  us  through  the  fiery  fur- 
nace of  trials  for  the  purifying  of  our  out- 
ward man,  so  that  we  may  be  pure  and 
clean,  fit  temples  for  the  Lord  of  life  and 
light  to  dwell  in,  and  to  receive  the  pure 
wine  of  the  kingdom  for  the  soul.  So,  my 
dear  friend  in  love  and  life,  do  I  exhort  thee  to 
be  of  good  cheer  under  thy  trouble  and  exer- 
cise, yet  not  in  folly  ;  bear  about  the  marks 
of  our  dear  Eedeemer  in  all  meekness  and 
humility,  knowing  this, — that  all  which  can 
happen  to  us  here  is  as  nothing  in  com- 
parison of  the  crown  of  immortality  and 
eternal  bliss  which  we  shall  receive  as  a  re- 


120  MEMOIKS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

ward  if  we  are  faithful  and  faint  not.  The 
cause,  in  some  measure,  of  my  exercise  is, 
that  Satan,  who  labours  every  way  to  lay 
waste  the  heritage  of  God,  hath  sown  his 
seed,  raised  discord  among  brethren,  to  the 
bowing  down  of  the  faithful  children  of  the 
Most  High  God.  Oh,  the  bitterness  he 
hath  caused  in  some  hearts  against  me  !  and 
I  know  not  for  what,  except  it  be  for  the 
trial  of  my  faith.  I  had  not  read  thy  letter, 
neither  first  nor  last,  when  I  wrote  my  letter 
to  thee  by  Ann  Moore,  which  when  I  saw  I 
greatly  rejoiced,  being  thankful  to  God  that 
he  was  pleased  to  put  in  thy  heart  to  write 
for  my  encouragement.  As  to  my  coming 
into  those  parts  next  summer,  I  cannot  tell ; 
but  it  rests  with  weight  and  sweetness  on 
my  mind  to  come  and  visit  you  again; 
but  I  must  wait  the  Lord's  own  due  and 
appointed  time :  until  then  I  dare  not 
move. 

Thy  well-wishing  friend  and  brother  in 
the  tribulation  and  patience  of  holy  Jesus. 

William  Hunt. 


OOKRESPONDENCE.  121 

TO    DAVID    BROOKS. 

Nantucket,  15tli  of  2d  mo.,  1771. 

My  right  dear  and  truly  well-beloved 
friend,  whom  I  often  remember  in  that 
which  laid  the  corner-stone  and  structure 
of  our  building  in  the  heavenly  mystery 
and  fellowship  of  the  sons  of  gospel  light, 
to  wit,  true  love  in  the  pure  seed,  which 
hath  been  revealed  and  shed  abroad  in  our 
hearts,  to  the  bringing  of  us  near  to  God  in 
the  communion  of  our  spirits.  May  that 
of  a  deep  and  humbling  concern  possess 
our  minds  to  hold  our  integrity,  and  keep 
the  first  love  pure,  with  a  noble  resolution 
well  becoming  the  fortitude  of  lamb-like 
warriors,  earnestly  pursuing  a  further  re- 
finement, that  the  Most  High  may  delight 
to  deposit  the  holy  treasure  in  the  temple 
that  himself  hath  made  clean  through  the 
brightness  of  his  coming.  Eemember, 
therefore,  and  always  bear  in  mind  from 
whom  thou  wast  called,  and  whereunto 
thou  art  called,  to  be  a  servant  of  Christ 
and  to  his  church.  Therefore  let  a  deep 
travail  and  laborious  exercise  of  mind  be 
kept  close  unto,  that  neither  the  shame  of 


122  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

uncleanness  nor  of  uncomeliness  may  bo 
seen  or  discovered,  but  all  hid  by  the 
mantle  of  Divine  love,  more  especially  in 
the  house  or  church  of  Christ,  whether  in 
worship  or  discipline.  Let  it  be  the  fervent 
prayer  of  thy  heart  to  demean  thyself  in 
meekness  as  a  follower  of  the  Lamb,  that 
the  great  I  AM  may  be  pleased  to  inform 
thy  judgment,  and  open  thy  understanding 
with  true  wisdom  and  knowledge  to  divide 
the  word  of  truth  aright,  holding  forth  the 
glorious  mystery  of  gospel  truth  like  a  well- 
instructed  scribe,  who  bringeth  out  of  his 
treasure  the  dilFerent  portions  suitable  for 
the  household. 

I  write  not  to  discourage  thee  in  any 
thing,  but  that  thou  mayest  be,  according 
to  thy  own  desire,  "what  the  Lord  would 
have  thee  to  be."  Come,  therefore,  beloved 
friend,  in  good  earnest  try  thy  skill ;  ap- 
prove thyself  a  workman  (in  this  holy 
structure)  that  need  not  be  ashamed.  My 
sincere  desire  is  thou  may  be  preserved 
from  all  mixtures.  With  a  salutation  of 
love,  I  subscribe,  thy  true  friend, 

William  Hunt. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  123 

TO    THE    SAME. 

London,  9tli  of  Gth  mo.,  1771. 

Dear  Friend : — As  true  love  and  deep  re- 
gard often  bring  thee  fresh  in  my  remem- 
brance, with  strong  desires  thon  mayest 
war  a  good  warfare,  as  a  faithful  soldier, 
properly  instructed  in  the  holy  mystery  of 
the  pure  word,  rightly  dividing  the  gospel 
truth  from  all  mixtures  of  thine  own  will, 
or  the  suggestions  of  him  wlio  works  in  the 
deception,  to  draw  out  of  the  simplicity  of 
the  heavenly  power  and  wisdom  that  is 
from  above,  pure  and  peaceable  in  the  seed, 
where  the  purpose  of  true  wisdom  is  known, 
and  strength  received  to  answer  every  re- 
quiring of  the  Divine  will.  As  one  whom 
I  love  equal  to  myself,  I  entreat,  yea,  and 
charge  in  the  fear  of  God,  that  thou  walk 
by  the  same  rule,  not  leaning  to  thine  own 
understanding,  but,  keeping  in  the  humility, 
patience,  and  meekness  of  holy  Jesus,  thou 
mayest  grow  in  the  root  and  pure  seed,  able 
to  bear  the  weight  and  burden  of  the  Lord's 
work,  in  the  dominion  of  his  own  spirit  and 
power.  Keep  out  of  all  heats  and  noisy 
airs,  where  thou  mayest  witness  the  spiritual 


124  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

kingdom  of  Christ  to  grow,  and  know  the 
pure  mystery  to  be  unfolded  further  and 
further.  Now  unto  the  only  Tvise  and  true 
God,  who  is  able  to  keep  and  preserve  thee, 
through  Christ  Jesus  his  beloved  Son,  in 
every  trying  dispensation,  to  the  honour  of 
his  great  name,  the  glory  of  his  truth,  the 
satisfaction  and  benefit  of  his  body,  the 
church,  whereunto  he  hath  called  thee  by 
the  word  of  his  power,  I  recommend  thee. 
With  the  salutation  of  love  I  subscribe  my- 
self thy  true  and  sympathizing  friend, 

William  Hunt. 

to  the  same. 

North  Hampton,  in  Old  England,  \ 
14tli  of  Gthmo.,  1771.  / 

Dear  Friend: — Because  I  love  thee  un- 
feignedly  in  the  bonds  of  the  gospel  of  our 
Lord  Jesus,  therefore  it  is  that  my  spirit  is 
drawn  toward  thee  in  the  pure  begetting 
of  the  holy  seed,  wherein  we  have  sweet 
communion  and  fellowship,  and  move  in 
our  heavenly  march  after  the  Captain  of 
our  salvation,  under  whose  banner  we  have 
enlisted.  Mayest  thou,  my  beloved  brother, 
pursue,  as  a  devoted  soldier,  with  all  dili- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  125 

gence,  this  holy  warfare,  not  entangling 
thyself  with  this  world,  or  the  spirit  of  it, 
but  keeping  in  the  peaceable  spirit  of  the 
Lamb,  that  thou  mayest  be  further  in- 
structed in  those  things  which  appertain  to 
the  glory  of  God,  thine  own  growth  and 
establishment  in  the  mystery  of  the  gospel 
power,  being  taught  thereby  to  divide  the 
word  aright,  seasoned  with  salt  to  thine 
own  peace  and  the  joy  and  comfort  of  thy 
brethren.  Mayest  thou,  with  thy  dear  wife, 
be  rightly  joined  to  serve  the  Lord,  being 
devoted  to  his  pure  will,  wherein  stands 
our  peace  forever.  With  the  affectionate 
salutation  of  love  to  you  both,  I  subscribe 
myself  thy  friend,  William  Hunt. 

TO    THE   SAME. 
Cumberland,  2d  of  8th  mo.,  1771. 

Dearly-beloved  friend: — As  I  feel  my 
mind  often  drawn  toward  thee  in  the  pure 
mystery  of  gospel  union,  wherein  I  may 
nearly  salute  thee,  with  thy  dear  wife,  and 
if  I  should  repeat  some  former  advices,  it 
will  only  manifest  the  continuation  of  deep 
regard,   feeling   a    fervent    desire    for   thy 


126  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

growth  and  increase  in  righteousness: 
wherefore,  then,  seek  for  strength  that  thou 
mayest  gird  on  the  whole  armour  of  hght, 
and  be  a  pattern  of  humility,  meekness, 
and  w^isdom  to  the  believers,  for  hereunto 
God  hath  called  thee  beyond  a  doubt  or 
scruple,  that  thou  in  due  time  shouldst  be 
prepared  to  hold  forth  the  mystery  of  his 
eternal  word  in  the  covenant  of  pure  light. 
I  often  long  to  see  thee,  but  more  for  thy 
preservation  in  an  infant  state,  that  nothing 
may  nip  thy  tender  plant,  thy  steppings 
along  being  sanctified  by  watching  and 
prayer ;  that  thy  feet  may  stand  firm,  abid- 
ing every  shock  and  storm  that  may  arise, 
from  what  quarter  soever,  that  if  God,  in 
the  riches  of  his  love,  see  meet  to  continue 
the  thread  of  time,  so  as  to  see  each  other 
in  the  vale  of  probation,  it  may  be  in  the 
fulness  of  that  unity  that  stands  in  the 
power  of  an  endless  life.  Study  to  be 
quiet,  and  mind  thy  proper  business ;  seek 
peace  and  maintain  the  brotherhood ;  dwell 
in  that  which  overcomes  all  things,  and 
thou  shalt  approve  thyself  as  a  good  soldier, 
well  instructed.  These  things  I  commit 
unto    thee    in   the   bonds   of   the    gospel, 


CORRESPONDENCE.  127 

wherein  I  travail  deeply  for  thy  persevering 
in  a  right  march  after  the  Lamb.  We  are, 
through  Divine  help,  well ;  the  Shepherd 
of  Israel  is  our  keeper :  although  he  leads 
us  through  dark  and  lonesome  places,  yet  he 
suffers  no  beast  of  prey  to  devour.  My 
life,  and  all  that  moves  within  me,  unites 
under  the  pure  seed  to  wish  thee  well 
through  every  trying  dispensation,  and  sub- 
scribe myself  a  lover  of  Zion's  children,  and 
thy  sincere  friend,  William  Hunt. 

TO   HIS    SISTERS,    MARGARET   BEALS   AND 
HANNAH    KERSEY. 

LivEKrooL,  1772. 

My  dearly-beloved  sisters :— It  is  with 
feeling  affection  and  united  regard  I  now 
salute  you,  with  our  dear  brother  and  all 
the  children,  being  bound  to  you  by  a  two- 
fold cord,  having  derived  our  being  from 
one  and  the  same  mother.  Yet,  alas !  how 
low  is  this  original  when  compared  with 
the  glory  of  immortal  union!  It  is  with 
joy  unspeakable  and  grateful  acknowledg- 
ment I  often  receive  the  mercies  of  our 
God  in  the  visitations  of  his  love,  gathering 
us  to  a  perfect  acquaintance  with  himself. 


128  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

Dear  hearts,  retain  your  integrity  therein 
with  true  firmness ;  keep  under  the  holy 
and  humbling  sense  of  pure  truth,  that 
under  its  shadow  you  may  witness  great 
delight;  though  in  this  world  there  may 
seem  but  little  but  a  continued  scene  of 
probation  and  additional  afflictions,  yet 
when  methinks  I  feel  more  than  usual  sym- 
pathy, we  can  centre  in  Him  where  all  ful- 
ness dwells,  and  the  soul  retreats  to  its 
native  abode,  witnessing  the  fresh  springs 
to  replenish  the  inward  man,  in  the  bright 
appearance  whereof  we  see  beyond  all 
mutable  connections  to  the  glory  of  our 
lasting  inheritance,  if  we  can  but  hold  fast 
that  we  have  received.  Be  of  good  cheer, 
dear  sisters,  and  hope  to  the  end.  Do  your 
day's  work  in  the  da}^ ;  the  journey  is  short, 
the  race  will  soon  be  over ;  leave  nothing 
undone  till  to-morrow  that  is  discovered 
and  put  in  your  power  to  do  this  day ;  then 
all  is  yours.  Although  I  am  the  youngest, 
yet  I  have  been  a  pattern  to  you  and  others, 
in  that  I  have,  by  grace  received  through 
faith,  made  truth's  cause  the  subject  of  my 
concern  and  bent  of  my  actions  from  my 
childhood,  so  that,  through  the  loving-kind- 


COKRESPONDENCE.  129 

ness  of  Him  whose  name  is  Most  High,  that 
hath  done  all  these  marvellous  things,  I 
have  a  secret  hope  of  being  so  far  fully 
clear.  As  for  our  present  situation,  we 
often  journey  by  faith  in  the  promises,  and 
not  by  sight,  witnessing  that  many  trials 
attend,  not  easy  to  describe  with  pen  and 
ink,  (but  feeling  minds  can  read  in  other 
lines;)  yet  it  is  a  comfortable  situation 
when  we  can  say  we  know  him  in  whom 
we  have  believed,  and  that  with  him  there 
is  no  want.  And  now,  it  is  in  a  language 
most  feeling  and  affectionate  I  would  send 
a  hint  to  Cousin  Amos  and  his  brothers. 
Dear  children,  carefully  mind  the  impres- 
sions of  Divine  love,  as  a  teacher  in  your 
own  breasts ;  adhere  to  the  advice,  caution, 
and  counsel  of  your  mother  with  readiness, 
and  by  no  means  run  counter  thereto ;  for 
if  she  keeps  her  sense  of  truth  in  so  doing, 
you  will  grieve  the  good  spirit  of  God,  and 
not  only  bring  sorrow  of  heart  upon  her, 
but  it  will  return  on  your  heads  in  the  ap- 
pointed time.  Let  your  delight  be  in  good 
company,  reading  and  meditating,  loving 
one  another,  being  at  peace  with  all  men : 
so  shall  the  God  of  perfect  wisdom  bless 

9 


130  3IEM0IHS    OF    VvILLIAM    ilUKT. 

you  with  the  knowledge  of  his  everlasting 
truth,  which  is  better  than  bags  of  silver. 
Thus,  as  a  token  of  my  remembrance  in  the 
eternal  and  unchangeable  truth,  I  conclude, 
your  affectionate  and  very  loving  brother, 

William  Hunt. 


A   FEW   WORDS   IN   REMEMBRANCE   OF   MY 
BROTHER,  WILLIAM  HUNT,  DECEASED. 

O  my  brother,  how  lovely  and  pleasant 
thou  hast  been  to  me  !  Thou  hast  forsaken 
all  that  was  near  and  dear  to  thee  in  this 
world  to  follow  the  Lamb  both  by  sea  and 
land.  Thou  didst  obey  the  heavenly  voice, 
and  preferred  the  Lord's  work  before  thine 
own.  Thou  hast  gone  to  and  fro  in  many 
parts  of  the  earth  to  sound  forth  the  trum- 
pet of  the  Lord,  and  hast  been  able  to  speak 
a  word  in  due  season.  It  was  thy  delight 
to  meditate  on  the  law  of  the  Lord.  Ah, 
my  brother,  what  shall  I  say  in  remem- 
brance of  thee  ?  Surely  I  may  lament  the 
loss  of  such  a  friend ;  although  I  have  no 
cause  to  mourn  though  thou  art  laid  in  the 
silent  grave,  yet  livingly  speaketh  in  the 
hearts  of  many.     Oh,  the  many  deep  bap- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  131 

tisms,  trials,  and  exercises  thou  liast  gone 
through  with  much  meekness  and  patience  ! 
Thou  didst  improve  thy  talents  (as  if  thou 
knewest  how  short  thy  time  should  be)  unto 
the  praise  of  Him  that  first  did  raise  thy 
mind  from  earthly  things  to  heavenly. 
Thou  hast  been  a  valiant  soldier  in  the  holy 
warfare,  to  promote  the  honour  and  glory 
of  God ;  so,  after  many  hard  labours  and 
travails  for  the  promotion  of  truth,  thou 
hast  ended  thy  days  in  a  distant  land,  w^here 
I  believe  thou  hast  gone  to  everlasting  rest 
and  peace,  with  glory  crowned,  amongst 
saints  and  angels  forever  blest.  Oh  that 
the  Lord  would  be  pleased  to  raise  up  many 
more  such  faithful  labourers  in  his  vine- 
yard !  Xow  we  are  left  behind ;  let  it  be 
our  daily  care  to  keep  down  in  humility,  in 
patience  and  self-denial,  in  reverence  and 
holy  fear  before  the  Lord,  that,  when  this 
short  and  uncertain  time  here  is  at  an  end, 
we  may  be  thought  w^orthy  of  an  inherit- 
ance amongst  the  sanctified,  where  we  may 
sing  praises  for  evermore.  So  saith  one 
that  wisheth  well  to  all  mankind. 

Margaret  Beals. 

4th  of  the  2d  mo.,  1773. 


132  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

TO   HIS   WIFE. 

My  dear,  loving  wife: — ^Feeling  a  free 
spring  of  life  to  overspread  my  mind  often 
toward  thee,  witli  my  dear  children,  in 
which  I  freely  intercede  with  the  Great 
l^ame  that  he  may  preserve  you  blameless 
in  a  degree  of  acquaintance  with  him.  Oh, 
my  dear  children,  how  doth  my  heart  and 
soul  long  for  them  and  toward  them,  that 
they  might  grow  up  in  the  beauty  and 
comeliness  of  God's  holy  truth,  learning  the 
fear  of  the  Lord  God  that  made  them ;  and 
thou,  my  dear,  that  hath  known  much  of 
the  turning  of  the  hand  of  God,  in  the  glory 
of  his  appearance,  my  dear  love  and  life  in 
Christ  Jesus,  I  salute  thee,  humbly  asking 
the  Father  and  Fountahi  of  all  good  that  he 
may  be  pleased  to  fill  thy  heart  with  the 
fulness  of  joy,  peace,  and  consolation  in  his 
Holy  Spirit.  When  I  was  with  you  I  was 
often  hurried  in  the  affairs  of  life,  that  1 
might  redeem  time  to  serve  the  Lord,  his 
truth  and  people,  v/hich  hath  been  my  de- 
light from  my  very  childhood ;  and  although 
many  trials  have  attended,  yet  it  is  now  my 
greatest  joy  that  I  gave  the  prime  of  age  a 


CORRESPONDENCE.  133 

freewill  oiFering  unto  God,  v/illingly  passing 
through  the  many  probations  necessary  to 
fit  the  mind  in  order  to  receive  renewed 
springs  of  gospel  ministry.  I  was  evermore 
favoured  with  a  truly  composed  mind,  con- 
firmed in  my  gift  and  duty  through  the 
land,  freely  devoted  and  cheerfully  given 
up  in  all  things,  in  which  state  I  witness 
both  access  and  acceptance.  And  now,  my 
dear  heart  and  true  love,  in  the  beautiful 
feeling  of  the  presence  of  our  beloved  Cap- 
tain, the  Rock  of  our  salvation,  do  I  entreat 
thee  to  wait  with  my  spirit  for  the  deep  feel- 
ing of  the  power  of  an  endless  life,  in  which 
we  shall  have  amiable  and  sympathizing 
converse  in  the  language  of  truth,  which 
will  be  pleasant  and  profitable.  What  shall 
I  say  more  than  pray  for  the  dew  of  the 
everlasting  hills  and  presence  of  the  Holy 
Shepherd  to  be  over  you  ?  IsTow,  dear 
children,  if  I  should  never  see  you  more, 
— which  stands  in  God's  will, — remember 
to  love  one  another,  and  obey  your  dear 
mother,  and  do  what  she  bids  you  with 
readiness.  Learn  to  read  and  go  to  meet- 
ing; be  sober  and  thoughtful.  And  I  re- 
main yours  in  the  Lord  only. 


134  MEMOIRS   OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

And,  dear  sister,  while  I  am  writing  to 
my  nearest  enjoyments,  there  is  a  spring  of 
endeared  affection  in  my  heart  toward  thee, 
constantly  and  earnestly  desiring  that  true 
peace  and  tranquillity  of  mind  may  rest 
over  thee  as  the  dew  of  Hermon's  hill  and 
spring  of  the  valley,  to  cause  the  plant  of 
God's  right  hand  to  grow  and  become 
strong  and  appear  beautiful.  In  much 
love  and  affection,  farewell. 

Wm.  Hunt. 

8th  of  7th  mo.,  1767. 

TO   THE   SAME. 

Dear  and  well-beloved  wife  : — In  the  true 
and  faithful  begettings  of  the  holy  seed  and 
beautiful  spring  of  pure  life  I  salute  thee, 
with  my  dear  children,  fervently  and  sin- 
cerely desiring  these  may  find  you  under 
the  shadow  of  the  Great  Shepherd,  w^here  is 
perfect  delight  through  every  circumstance. 
I  am  with  Cousin  Tomma,  and  have  been 
favoured  w^ith  a  tolerable  good  state  of 
health  through  a  difficult  journey,  in  which 
Divine  Goodness  hath  often  appeared  in 
manifold  instances  for  our  help   and   pre- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  135 

servation,  for  which  I  am  often  engaged 
with  reverence  and  fear  to  say,  Who  is 
worthy  but  thou,  O  Lord,  to  receive  do- 
minion and  glory,  worship  and  perfect 
obedience  forever,  whose  works  are  wonder- 
ful, and  his  w^ays  past  finding  out, — only  as 
the  Morning  Star,  who  hath  the  key  of 
David,  is  pleased  to  open  the  mysteries  of 
the  holy  kingdom  and  discover  the  riches 
and  wisdom  thereof?  And  now,  my  dear, 
that  thou  may  humbly  wait  with  all  dili- 
gence for  instruction  to  conduct  wisely  be- 
fore thy  own  family,  and  in  the  house  of 
God,  coming  up  daily  in  a  discharge  of 
duty  through  every  trying  dispensation,  is 
the  deep  travail  of  my  spirit.  And  oh,  my 
tender  children,  my  heart  and  mind  are 
moved  on  every  remembrance  of  you  with 
endeared  affection,  desiring  above  all  things, 
my  dear  children,  that  you  may  walk  before 
the  Lord  in  his  fear  and  dread,  who  then 
will  be  your  crown  and  great  reward.  Once 
more,  my  dear  wife  and  children,  in  much 
love  and  affection  I  commend  you  to  the 
Watcher  and  Holy  One,  that  hath  been  the 
keeper  of  my  life  in  and  through  all  hunger 
and  nakedness,  perils  by  sea  and  land ;  but, 


136  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

more  than  all  these,  what  I  have  gone 
through  on  account  of  false  brethren,  the 
Lord  only  knows,  who  judgeth  all  things. 
Oft  have  I  been  afraid  I  should  perish  in 
the  ruins  of  a  backsliding  people ;  but  He 
who  is  witnessed  by  a  remnant  to  dwell  be- 
tween the  cherubims  hath  not  given  me  my 
life  for  a  prey,  and  sometimes  admits  me  to 
draw  near  in  the  beaut}^  of  holiness  to  enjoy 
a  sweetness  unspeakable.  I  see  nothing, 
dear  child,  but  that  I  shall  return  in  the 
Lord's  time,  yet  felt  a  freedom  to  write 
these  lines,  that,  if  it  should  prove  other- 
wise, thou  might  have  a  hint  of  the  travail 
of  my  soul,  and  know  that  I  was  at  rest  in 
the  Lord  God  of  my  life,  who  is  first  and 
last,  yea  and  amen,  forever.  We  have  been 
through  the  most  part  of  'New  York  and 
E'ew  England,  are  now  in  the  Jerseys,  ex- 
pect to  take  a  few  meetings  in  our  way  to 
Philadelphia,  from  thence  direct  into  Mary- 
land, a  few  meetings  in  the  back  part,  then, 
if  the  Lord  permit,  home.  I  trust  to  see 
you  the  latter  end  af  next  month  ;  but  it  is 
best  not  to  be  uneasy.  I  hope  to  keep 
strictly  under  the  Great  Captain's  command, 
in  whom  only  we  are   one   another's  joy, 


CORRESPONDENCE.  137 

whether  absent  or  present.  Our  clear  cousin 
Tomma  does  bravely  as  a  kind,  agreeable 
companion,  and  joins  in  dear  love  to  thee 
and  all  our  friends.  Thy  affectionate  hus- 
band, William  Hunt. 

Shrewsbury  in  the  Jerseys,  \ 
2cl  mo.  13,  1768.  / 


TO   THE  SAME. 

My  right  dear  and  truly-beloved  wife  : — 
As  I  feel  my  mind  drawn  and  sweetly  open 
toward  thee  at  times  in  the  pure  seed, 
where  the  union,  sympathy,  and  fellowship 
of  our  spirits  stand  firm  in  the  holy  life  that 
hath  been  revealed  and  shed  abroad  in  our 
hearts  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lamb,  through 
whom  we  have  found  admittance  into  the 
heavenly  mystery  of  pure  truth,  and  been 
partakers  of  the  glory  manifested  to  the 
children  of  light,  for  which  excellent  hope 
received  we  are  now  accounted  worthy  of 
the  Most  High  to  sojourn  apart  for  a  sea- 
son, may. a  deep  humbling  concern  ever 
possess  our  minds  to  dwell  in  perfect  resig- 
nation to  his  heavenly  will,  where  the 
fountain  of  peace  is  fully  known  to  flow 


138  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

and  solace  the  weary  miud  under  all  its 
fatigues  and  toils.  We  have  had  for  most 
part  a  good  and  comfortable  journey  to  this 
island,  being  kindly  received  amongst  our 
brethren,  and  sometimes  favoured  with  an 
enlargement  of  heart  and  opening  into  the 
gospel  mystery,  wherein  we  have  been 
comforted  together,  and  confirmed  that  it 
was  the  Lord's  will  we  should  come  into 
this  land.  We  have  been  about  nine  days 
on  this  island,  and  are  now  waiting  for  a 
fair  wind  to  go  for  E-hode  Island,  where  we 
have  been  some  time :  we  had  from  thence 
the  company  of  our  truly-esteemed  friends 
James  Mitchel  and  Isaac  Lawton.  My  dear 
heart,  the  secret  prayer  of  my  mind  is,  that 
thou  ma}^  experience  the  fresh  springs  of 
pure  wisdom  and  goodness  to  influence  thy 
mind,  so  as  to  be  ordered  thereby  in  all 
things,  when  time  nor  distance  will  not 
seem  long.  In  love  to  all  friends,  I  con- 
clude, thy  affectionate  husband, 

Wm.  Hunt. 

Nantucket,  2d  mo,  14,  1771. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  139 


TO    THE    SAME. 


Philadelphia,  4th  mo.  25,  1771. 

My  dear  and  inwardly-beloved  wife : — 
"WTien  I  consider  the  many  trying  dispensa- 
tions and  hard  afflictions  thou  hast  been 
brought  through,  of  both  body  and  mind, 
it  leads  me  to  renew  the  language,  "  Great 
and  marvellous  are  all  thy  works  thou  God 
of  truth  ;"  when  to  the  eye  of  human  reason 
it  appears  a  wonder  that  thou  art  continued 
in  the  earthly  frame  to  this  day ;  and  it  is 
beyond  doubt  with  me  that  the  purpose  of 
pure  Wisdom  in  the  lengthening  of  time  is 
for  some  great  and  good  end ;  may  thou, 
therefore,  always  be  kept  in  a  truly  watch- 
ful inward  state,  to  the  end  every  purpose 
of  pure  goodness  respecting  thee  may  be 
fully  answered,  dwelling  in  a  cheerful  re- 
signation to  the  Divine  will  in  all  things, 
where  thou  wilt  witness  a  stepping  peace- 
ably through  the  crowd  of  many  cumbers, 
and  grow  in  the  heavenly  mystery,  wisdom, 
and  increase  of  truth,  wherein  the  time  will 
not  seem  tedious  either  of  my  absence  oi 
other  trials  that  may  attend  ;  and  though  it 


140  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

has  at  times  been  a  cross  to  stay  so  long  in 
this  land,  yet,  as  I  have  great  cause  to  be- 
lieve it  is  in  the  pure  wisdom, — the  many 
additional  seals  of  his  owning  power  and 
presence  being  near  to  open  through  the 
veil  into  the  treasure  of  pure  wisdom, — lam 
bound  to  submit,  having  never  seen  till 
now  any  vessel  or  time  of  embarking,  which 
looks  likely  to  be  in  about  ten  days. 

I  am  often  deeply  thoughtful  of  our  chil- 
dren, with  strong  desires  they  may  be  so 
preserved  as  never  to  be  a  dishonour  to  the 
glory  of  that  truth  I  am  called  to  bear  testi- 
mony to  and  for.  But  I  trust,  dear  heart, 
thou  wilt  be  directed  by  pure  wisdom  to  in- 
struct them  in  every  branch  of  religious 
duty  in  the  simplicity  of  truth,  and  that  the 
Most  High  will  visit  and  gather  them  under 
his  holy  banner  of  pure  love. 

Our  esteemed  friends  Samuel  'Neal  and 
Joseph  Oxley  came  to  this  city  two  days 
past,  who  gave  me  a  comfortable  account 
of  thy  state  and  the  children's,  also  that 
they  believe  thou  wast  better  without  me 
than  with  me,  which  I  trust  is  a  certain 
truth,  since  He  who  searches  the  utmost 
treasure  of  our  minds  bears  me  that  testi- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  141 

mony  that  nothing  in  this  world  could  be 
the  least  draught  to  have  parted  with  so 
many  endearments  sometimes.  The  above- 
mentioned  friends  desire  to  be  kindly  re- 
membered in  love  to  thee  and  all  our  chil- 
dren, after  mentioning  very  lively  their 
feeling  remembrance  of  thy  cheerful,  well- 
grounded  disposition  of  mind.  It  looks 
likely  before  thou  receives  this  letter,  if  the 
Lord  of  all  our  mercies  prosper  our  way,  we 
may  be  in  Old  England ;  to  whom  I  com- 
mend thee,  with  our  children,  and  rest  thy 
companion  in  many  exercises,  desiring  you 
may  dwell  in  peace  with  him  and  one 
another,  seeking  peace  with  all  men,  that 
the  God  of  peace  may  delight  to  dwell 
richly  in  your  hearts.  Farewell.  Thy 
affectionate  husband, 

William  Hunt. 

to  the  same. 

Cumberland,  Old  England,  > 
1st  of  8th  mo.,  1771.        / 

Dear  and  well-beloved  wife  : — I  received 
thy  very  acceptable  letter,  dated  the  12th 
of  the  4th  month  last,  which  was  cause  of 


142  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM   HUNT. 

joy  and  thankfulness  to  hear  you  were  all 
then  favoured  with  health,  a  blessing  we 
have  mostly,  through  merciful  regard,  par- 
took of  since  our  parting  with  thee  and 
other  connections  of  this  world.  We  have 
had,  upon  the  whole,  a  comfortable  journey 
so  far,  having  been  with  many  valuable 
Friends,  whose  united  regard  to  us  hath 
been  very  confirming  and  instructive,  many 
of  whom  thou  knows,  to  wit,  John  Storer, 
Robert  Proud,  Joshua  Dixon,  Thomas  Gaw- 
throp,  Jane  Crosfield,  Hannah  Harris,  Eliza- 
beth Wilkinson,  and  Rachel  Wilson,  who 
mostly  desired  to  be  kindly  remembered  to 
thee.  We  expect  next  week  to  go  into 
Scotland.  As  Friends  are  few  and  scatter- 
ing in  that  nation,  it  was  thought  best  to 
be  there  in  the  summer  season.  I  hope 
and  often  desire  that  the  God  of  truth  and 
perfect  wisdom  may  and  will  be  with  thee 
and  our  children,  to  direct  your  goings  in 
the  pure  light,  wherein  is  safety.  We  are 
daily  alarmed,  by  the  newspapers  from  the 
seaport  towns,  of  the  calamitous  situation 
of  ^orth  Carolina  and  Virginia,  the  one  by 
destroying  themselves,  the  other  by  the  de- 
luge of  waters,  laying  many  places  in  ruin- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  143 

0U8  heaps.  But,  as  our  warfare  is  of 
another  nature,  we  endeavour  to  gather 
from  the  confused  noise,  which  no  doubt 
many  of  you  have  been  deeply  tried  with, 
yet  cannot  but  feel  concern  for  the  inhabit- 
ants in  general,  and  our  brethren  in  par- 
ticular, with  strong  desires  they  may  be 
preserved  in  that  stability  and  firmness  as 
becomes  the  followers  of  holy  Jesus.  It  was 
not  sorrowful  to  me  to  hear  that  Aunt 
Elizabeth  was  gathered  to  her  appointed 
home,  believing  she  enjoys  an  immortal 
crown.  Dear  little  Cousin  William  Morgan, 
whom  I  much  loved,  will  be  missed  in  his 
own  family  and  in  that  meeting;  but,  as 
true  "Wisdom  hath  seen  meet  to  number 
him  from  the  evil  to  come,  it  is  our  duty  to 
submit.  Give  my  dear  love  to  his  widow. 
As  for  my  former  truly-united  companion, 
Zacharias  Dicks,  I  conclude  almost  beyond 
a  doubt  that  he  is  dead,  or  else  I  think  he 
would  certainly,  by  some  means  or  other, 
have  renewed  the  cordial  notes  of  friend- 
ship before  now,  as  I  principally  depended 
on  him  to  give  me  a  full  account  of  my  own 
affairs  and  things  in  general.  If  he  is  yet 
alive,  let  him  know  the  uniting  of  my  life 


144  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

is  sealed  up  in  the  mystery  of  the  gospel 
with  them  who  dwell  in  the  pure  day. 
I  was  in  hopes  if  the  lads  had  learned  well 
to  have  seen  some  of  their  scribbling  by 
this  time.  My  love  to  thee  and  thine :  all 
relations  and  friends,  as  though  named, 
(wherein  Cousin  Tomma  joins,)  to  father 
and  mother,  and  my  beloved  brother 
Eleazar  in  particular.  Thy  aflectionate 
husband,  Wm.  Hunt. 

TO   THE    SAME. 

Cork,  in  Ireland,  2d  mo.  26,  1772. 

My  dear  love,  to  whom  is  the  salutation 
of  my  life  in  that  which  changeth  not, 
wherein  is  dominion  over  all  things,  be- 
cause it  was,  and  is,  and  will  be  when  all 
things  are  gone,  in  these  the  God  of  all 
glory  keep  thee  and  my  dear  children,  and 
then  all  will  be  well :  whether  life  or  death, 
Christ  the  hope  of  glory  is  ours,  and  we  are 
his.  As  to  my  health,  it  is  preserved  to  a 
miracle,  through  constant  travelling,  deep 
labours,  close  exercises,  being  in  depths 
often  and  trials  many.  But  He  who  raised 
Jesus  from  the  dead  comforts  us  amidst  all 


CUKKESPONDENCE.  145 

tribulation,  by  the  help  of  faithful  brethren, 
who  are  become  bone  of  our  bone  in  the 
mystery  of  the  new  covenant,  so  that  I  may 
say  no  people  were  ever  more  near  than 
some  both  here  and  in  England,  and  at  the 
same  time  not  forgetting  my  kindred  in  the 
pure  seed  at  home,  with  whom  the  celestial 
bond  remains  firm  in  the  unction  of  pure 
love,  often  visiting  of  you  both  in  the  day- 
time and  night-season,  being  often  re- 
freshed in  a  sense  of  the  uniting  help  of  the 
faithful,  whose  prayers  I  know  ascend  to 
the  Great  Master  as  sweet  incense  for  our 
preservation,  which  I  humbly  hope  will 
prevail,  to  the  glory  of  Him  that  hath  called 
us,  and  our  mutual  joy  one  in  another,  in 
the  Lord's  good  time.  I  wrote  to  thee  and 
my  dear  little  companion  Zacharias  by  a 
vessel  bound  for  "Wilmington,  directed  to 
Thomas  Hadley,  at  Cross  Creek,  in  the 
tenth  month.  I  since  wrote  to  thee  from 
Liverpool,  directed  to  Edward  Stabler. 
I  send  this  to  Philadelphia,  thinking  per- 
haps some  of  them  may  reach  thee.  About 
four  weeks  since,  true  Wisdom  seemed  to 
point  our  course  for  this  nation  :  thereto  we 
took  shipping  at  Liverpool,  and  had  a  good 

10 


146  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

passage  of  twenty-six  hours  to  Dublin.  We 
hope,  if  the  Lord  prospers  our  way  as 
hitherto,  we  shall  be  clear  of  this  kingdom 
BO  as  to  get  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  Lon- 
don, w^hich  is  in  the  sixth  month.  Inquire 
not  after  our  return  home,  but  dwell  in  the 
holy  seed,  where  faith  and  patience  are  re- 
ceived to  hope  unto  the  end,  that  we  may 
be  heirs  of  the  promise,  and  possess  one 
another  in  the  Lord,  with  whom  the  secrets 
of  time  remain  hid.  May  my  dear  children 
so  live  and  walk  in  the  fear  of  God,  love 
and  affection  to  one  another,  and  in  true 
peace  and  quietness  with  all  men,  as  to  be 
a  blessing  and  comfort  to  thee  in  the  many 
deep  trials  thou  hast  to  pass  through,  is  the 
humbling  concern  and  deep  travail  of  my 
spirit.  With  the  tender  endearments  of 
true  love  and  affection  to  thee  and  them, 
I  remain  yours  in  the  Lord,  and  thy  loving 
husband,  William  Hunt. 

TO    THE   SAME. 

Liverpool,  5th  mo.  13,  1772. 
My   right   dear    and    truly   well-beloved 
wife,  in  that  which  was,  and  is,  and  will  be 


CORRESPONDENCE.  1-17 

when  we  are  gone  and  gathered  to  our 
lot  and  portion  with  the  Lord,  do  I  dearly 
salute  thee,  with  all  our  children.  I  wrote 
to  thee  from  Cork,  in  Ireland,  soon  after 
our  arrival  there,  giving  thee  an  account  of 
our  coming  on  that  island,  since  which  w^e 
have  visited  all  the  meetings  in  that  king- 
dom, the  Lord  giving  us  many  precious 
seasons,  and  concluded  our  visit  at  their 
National  Meeting,  held  in  Duhlin,  which 
was  very  large,  and  truly  comfortable  to 
many,  being  eminently  favoured  with  the 
owning  power  and  presence  of  truth, 
wherein  many  minds  were  enlarged  with 
wisdom  and  understanding  to  communicate 
weighty  advices  to  the  men  and  women's 
meetings  to  take  charge  of  God's  glory  and 
truth's  testimony  in  the  several  parts  of  the 
nation.  I  write  this  because  I  know  thou 
likes  to  hear  of  truth's  prosperity  and 
Friends'  zeal  for  comely  order.  There  is  a 
living  remnant  preserved  in  that  nation 
with  whom  my  spirit  is  nearly  united,  being 
bound  in  the  covenant  of  pure  light,  though 
we  had  painful  labour,  deep  exercises,  close 
engagements,  hard  travails  within  and  with- 
out, not  easy  to  express  wdth  pen  and  ink ;  but 


148  MEMOIRS   OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

thou  can  read  and  understand  these  things, 
and  know  the  deep  wadings  of  my  spirit  for 
the  Lord's  work,  that  I  might  rejoice  in  that 
day  when  the  last  trump  shall  sound,  in 
that  I  devoted  the  prime  of  life  to  the  hope 
set  before  me.  And  now,  dear  heart,  know 
and  be  consolated  in  the  Lord  our  God, 
who  hath  kept  and  preserved  us,  and  given 
our  lives  in  the  pure  seed  from  time  to 
time,  in,  through,  and  over  all  these  perils, 
(which  have  not  been  few,)  to  stand  in  the 
dominion  of  the  unchangeable  truth,  mak- 
ing Jerusalem  a  quiet  habitation,  and  Zion 
a  safe  spot  of  dwelling.  To  Him  that 
dwells  between  the  cherubims  be  glory  and 
honour,  with  sweet  praises  ascending  as 
from  the  holy  altar  which  he  prepares  in 
the  hearts  of  his  contrited  ones,  who  is 
worthy  forever.  But  my  deep  concern  re- 
mains for  thee  and  our  children  whom  the 
Lord  hath  given  us,  that  thou,  my  dear 
love,  may  dwell  deep  in  the  root  of  life,  and 
receive  faith  and  renew  patience,  which 
worketh  hope  in  a  mystery  that  stands  firm 
and  is  not  shaken  with  any  conflicts,  having 
the  prospect  of  a  better  country  when  once 
this  weary  pilgrimage  is  at  an  end.     And 


CORRESPONDENCE.  149 

oh,  my  children,  that  they  may  walk  in 
the  truth,  and  never  tread  on  that  testi- 
mony which,  with  many  weary  steps  and 
painful  moments,  I  am  engaged  to  bear 
among  many  people. 

We  are  now  arrived  in  England,  having 
had  a  comfortable  passage  of  about  forty- 
seven  hours  from  Dublin.  Being  now  two 
hundred  miles  from  London,  we  purpose 
setting  out  to-morrow,  in  order  to  get  to 
the  Yearly  Meeting  there  the  1st  of  next 
month.  "We  get  on  in  our  service  beyond 
what  I  could  expect,  though  my  little  frame 
is  much  impaired  and  my  constitution 
broken ;  yet  Divine  help  is  near  to  renew 
strength  of  body  and  mind  far  more  than 
I  dare  have  hoped  for.  It  is  likely  I  shall 
have  opportunity  of  writing  from  London, 
letting  thee  know  my  further  prospects,  as 
best  Wisdom  may  please  to  open  our  way. 
Eemember  us  to  thy  father  and  mother, 
with  all  the  children  and  other  friends. 
The  Lord  grant  stability  and  firmness  to  be 
the  girdle  of  thy  loins,  and  give  thee  wis- 
dom to  become  a  mother  in  Israel.  Thy 
affectionate  husband, 

William  Hunt. 


150  MEMOIRS    OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

TO   THE    SAME. 

Amsterdam,  8th  mo.,  1772. 
Dear  heart : — Having  a  sweet  remembrance 
of  thee,  a  deep  and  inward  feeling  sympathy  with 
thee  in  thy  many  and  various  steppings  along 
through  a  weary  pilgrimage,  which  I  trust  is  com- 
fortable at  times,  by  the  bright  rays  of  Him  in 
whom  the  fulness  still  remains,  covering  the  habi- 
tation of  thy  mind  as  with  a  living  canopy  of 
pure  love  ;  then  we  may  say  in  truth  all  his  ways 
are  pleasant,  and  paths  peace  :  my  spirit  salutes 
thee  in  the  fresh  feeling  thereof,  and  gives  thee 
to  understand  that  our  service  in  Holland  seems 
nearly  over  :  purposing  if  the  Lord  will,  to  take 
shipping  in  a  few  hours  for  England.  I  wrote 
thee  from  London  of  our  intention  of  Holland, 
and  from  Hull  of  the  time  of  our  embarking, 
at  our  first  landing,  of  a  good  passage :  as  indeed 
I  have  nothing  to  aay  of  our  Holy  Captain  but 
that  he  hath  been  altogether  good,  far  beyond 
what  I  dared  to  have  hoped  for  :  at  our  first  com- 
ing here  the  difficulty  of  speaking  by  an  inter- 
preter was  great,  and  sunk  my  spirit  exceeding 
low ;  earnestly  entreating  the  Most  High  that 
he  would  be  pleased  in  his  abundant  mercy  to 
qualify  me  for  every  service  he  called  unto  :  and 
adorable  condescension  heard  the  travail  of  my 


CORRESPONDENCE.  151 

spirit,  and  stayed  my  mind,  gathering  it  unto 
the  habitation  of  life,  and  gave  me  wisdom  and 
utterance  to  speak  of  those  things  which  apper- 
tain to  His  kingdom.  Since  which  we  have  had 
many  precious  seasons  in  public  meetings  and 
families :  for  which  with  all  his  unmerited 
favours,  preservations  by  sea  and  land,  let  all 
within  me  bow  in  awful  reverence  before  Him, 
who  is  still  the  dread  of  nations :  and  to  us  all 
in  all,  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever.     Amen. 

Thus,  my  dear,  we  have  been  through  the 
outskirts  of  our  visit  to  Europe,  as  Scotland, 
Ireland,  Holland,  and  the  north  of  Britain ; 
we  now  draw  towards  the  centre  of  our  service, 
which  I  trust  will  be  accomplished  in  the  Lord's 
good  time.  May  thou  be  kept  in  that  which  will 
not  think  the  time  long,  is  often  the  desire  of 
my  mind,  and  you  with  us  be  so  ordered  in  the 
counsel  and  wisdom  of  truth,  as  all  things  may 
tend  to  the  honour  and  reputation  of  the  great 
cause,  which  will  turn  to  our  account  when  time 
here  shall  be  no  more. 

I  have  received  many  comfortable  letters 
from  thee,  and  several  from  other  Friends,  all 
which  I  acknowledge  as  tokens  of  regard. 

In  affectionate  nearness,  thy  loving  husband, 

William  Hunt. 


152  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

ESTHER   TUKE'S   LETTER   TO   WILLIAM   HUNT*S 
CHILDREN. 

Dear  children  of  a  father  beloved  and 
honoured  by  me  with  double  honour,  which 
was  his  due,  accept  a  few  lines,  the  produce 
of  an  heart  deeply  concerned  for  your  pre- 
sent and  eternal  good ;  though  to  you  a 
stranger  and  unknown,  yet,  through  Divine 
favour,  a  near  relation  to  your  father  in 
that  spiritual  kingship  which  is  stronger 
than  death,  nor  can  time  erase  it  out.  And 
now  he  is  removed  from  us,  that  you  nor 
I  can  behold  him  no  more,  my  love  flows 
strong  to  you  who  were  so  near  to  him, 
with  desires  that  you  may  walk  in  his  steps; 
and,  that  it  may  be  so,  let  me  recommend 
to  your  serious  attention  good  King  David's 
advice  to  his  son: — "Thou,  Solomon,  my 
son,  know  the  God  of  thy  fathers,  and  serve 
him  with  a  perfect  heart  and  with  a  willing 
mind :  if  thou  seek  him  he  will  be  found 
of  thee ;  but  if  thou  forsake  him  he  will 
cast  thee  off  forever,"  I  trust  some  of  you, 
who  are  now  as  old  as  your  father  was  when 
he  appeared  in  the  Lord's  cause,  hath  been 
in   a   good   degree   acquainted  with    your 


CORRESPONDENCE.  153 

father's  God;  and  to  you  nothing  remains 
but  to  regard  the  second  admonition, — to 
serve  him  with  a  perfect  heart  and  a  willing 
mind;  and  as  this  becomes  your  case, 
according  to  the  discovery  of  his  will,  you 
will  know  his  going  forth  to  be  prepared  as 
a  morning  without  clouds,  and  his  return  as 
the  former  and  the  latter  rain,  by  which 
you  will  grow  in  strength  and  in  the  know- 
ledge of  his  ways,  and  so  be  fitted  for  ser- 
vice in  his  house,  and  fill  up  the  place  of 
your  dear  deceased  father,  and  other  wor- 
thies that  have  gone  from  works  to  a  glo- 
rious reward.  You  know  this  was  what 
your  father  most  desired  for  you,  above  the 
fatness  of  the  earth,  knowing  well  by  living 
experience  that  godliness  with  contentment 
is  great  gain,  being  profitable  unto  all 
things,  having  the  promise  of  the  life  which 
now  is  and  of  that  which  is  to  come ;  and 
in  this  state  you  will  comfort  and  be  as 
an  husband  to  your  mother  in  her  lonely 
widow  state.  Being  stripped  of  one  so 
worthy,  she  will  often  mourn  in  the  re- 
membrance of  his  tenderness  and  care;  and 
in  these  seasons  your  steady  conduct  and 
tender  sympathy  w^ill  help  to  bear  up  her 


154  MEMOIRS   OF   WILLIAM    HUNT. 

drooping  head,  aud  perhaps  at  times  make 
her  to  forget  to  mourn  ;  and  your  advice 
and  example,  being  in  this  manner  seasoned 
with  the  Lord's  fear,  may  be  a  means  of 
drawing  those  that  are  younger  into  the 
same  path  ;  and,  as  sure  as  this  becomes  the 
case,  the  blessing  of  your  father's  God  will 
rest  upon  you  in  dew  as  from  the  ever- 
lasting hills,  and  neither  grace  nor  glory 
that  he  sees  is  meet  for  you  will  be  with- 
held. 

My  heart  is  filled  with  love  toward  you 
as  if  you  were  my  own  children,  and  in 
that  tender  feeling  have  I  mourned  for  your 
loss,  knowing  well  it  is  exceeding  great, 
which  I  believe  some  of  you  are  truly  sen- 
sible of;  and  I  much  desire  a  proper  sense 
of  your  father's  worth  and  his  advice  which 
you  have  been  favoured  with  may  be  sealed 
upon  your  mind,  and,  like  bread  cast  upon 
the  waters,  return  and  dwell  with  you  to 
the  end  of  your  da3^s. 

And  now,  having  wrote  in  true  love 
those  few  things  as  they  arose,  I  think  to 
leave  you,  after  desiring  such  of  you  as  are 
eldest  to  keep  near  to  that  hand  which  hath 
visited,  and  the  younger  to  remember  their 


CORRESPONDENCE.  155 

Creator  in  these  days  of  youth,  and  not 
grieve  his  pure  witness,  having  a  comfort- 
able hope  that,  as  this  is  your  case.  He  who 
was  with  your  father  all  his  life  long,  sup- 
ported him  through  all  his  troubles,  and 
gathered  him  safe  to  his  eternal  kingdom 
of  rest  and  peace,  will  in  like  manner  bless 
and  be  with  you ;  and  though  you  must 
expect  in  this  world  there  will  be  trouble, 
yet  fear  not :  it  is  the  way  to  peace.  With 
an  affectionate  salutation  of  tender  love  I 
salute  you,  and  remain  your  sincere  friend, 

Esther  Tuke. 

York,  10th  mo.  26,  1772. 


LINES 


TO   THE    MEMORY   OP 


SAMUEL    FOTHERGILL.    WILLIAM    HUNT,    AND 
JOHN    WOOLMAN. 

WRITTEN  1772. 


"Whence,  0  my  friend,  that  sadly  pensive  sigh  ? 

Whence  those  descending  sympathetic  tears  ? 

Has  thy  firm  bosom  met  some  adverse  shock  ? 

Or  dost  thou  feel  another's  secret  woe  ? 

No  :  'tis  a  general,  universal  grief 

That  swells  thy  bosom  with  augmenting  pangs ! 

Thou  mourn'st  for  Zion,  mourns  the  church's  loss, 

By  the  removal  of  her  valiant  sons  : 

For  who  can  view  her  stately  pillars  gone, 

Those  firm  supports  of  virtue's  weighty  dome, 

And  not  unite  in  tributary  tears  ? 

No  more  a  Fothergill,  with  truth's  bright  shield, 
Maintains  the  dignity  of  Christian  zeal ; 
No  more  he  shines  the  mirror  of  the  good, 
The  noble  standard  of  aceomplish'd  man ! 

Whate'er  of  great  the  moralist  can  boast, 
Whate'er  superior  grace  religion  gives, 
156 


MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT.  157 

In  him  portray'd  a  finished  character. 
"With  what  persuasive  nervous  eloquence 
His  lips  have  utter'd  this  endearing  call: — 
*'  Ye  rising  youth,  the  hope  of  future  years, 
You  who  have  felt  the  cords  of  heavenly  love 
To  draw  and  disengage  you  from  the  world, 
Keep  near  that  quickening  vivifying  power 
AVhich  freed  from  bondage  Israel's  favoured  sons  I 
So  shall  you  grow,  to  glad  parental  love. 
And  stand  as  warriors  in  defence  of  truth ! 
On  you  the  important  cause  must  soon  devolve, 
Oh,  be  ye  faithful,  upright,  and  sincere," 

No  more  he  speaks  ;  his  flowing  periods  cease ! 
No  more  he  lights  devotion's  sacred  flame ! 
No  longer  warms  and  aids  the  ascending  soul 
To  scale  the  altar  whence  his  virtues  flow'd  ; 
For  all  proceeded  from  the  throne  of  Grace : 
His  light,  his  love,  his  ardent  charity, 
Were  but  the  emanations  of  that  Sun 
Whose  rays  diffusive  are  the  Christian's  strength, 
His  bow,  his  battle-axe,  his  only  hope. 

Nor  less  revered  the  memory  of  Hunt, 
That  noble  veteran  in  his  Master's  cause, 
"Who  greatly  left  his  wife,  his  native  land. 
With  every  pledge  that  renders  life  most  dear, 
To  purchase  that  best  gift, — a  peaceful  mind. 
You,  who  with  him  have  oft  retired  to  sit 
In  inward  silence,  awful  and  profound, 
Beneath  the  shades  of  Sinai's  cloudy  top, 
To  wait  the  unfoldings  of  mysterious  love, 
You  only  know  the  deep  and  ardent  travail 


158  MEMOIRS    OF    WILLIAM    HUNT. 

Of  his  mind, — his  sympathetic  mind, 

In  fello^Y-labouring  lent,  a  secret  strength 

With  3^our8  uniting,  raising  light  and  life. 

And  thou,  0  Woolman,  venerable  seer, 
Art  highly  worthy  of  the  plaintive  lay : 
In  thee  the  astonished  gazing  world  admired, 
What  this  degenerate  age  can  rarely  boast, 
A  faithful  follower  of  a  suffering  Lord  ! 
'Twas  thine  the  painful,  thorny  path  to  tread; 
'Twas  thine  to  bear  a  Saviour's  dying  cross ! 
Redeem'd  from  earth,  and  earth's  perplexing  cares. 
Redeemed  from  lawful  and  unlawful  self. 
Thy  mind  was  tutor'd,  fitted,  and  prepared 
To  enjoy  the  highest  privilege  of  man, 
A  near  companion  with  Eternal  Good, — 
A  fellowship  celestial  while  below, — 
The  certain  earnest  of  immortal  bliss  ! 
Thy  only  wish  to  hear  and  to  obey 
The  sacred  mandate  and  supreme  decree 
Of  Him  who  calls  for  purity  and  peace. 

Here  stop,  my  pen. — This  fainter  sketch  forbear 
Of  what  their  retrospective  virtues  teach. 
Their  bright  examples  thus  address  mankind  :— 
"  Our  painful,  arduous  warfare  now  is  past ; 
Our  souls,  released  from  earth's  penurious  soil, 
Are  gone  to  enjoy  the  liberty  they  loved ; 
That  full  fruition  of  triumphant  joy 
For  which  we  labour'd  in  our  militant  state. 
Mourn  not  for  us  :  the  living  claim  your  tears ! 
Weep  for  those  dead  in  trespass  and  in  sin ! 


MEMOIRS   OF    WILLIAM   HUNT.  150 

Tread  the  same  steps  which  centred  us  in  rest ; 
By  good  example  call  to  the  supine ; 
The  young  encourage,  animate  the  weak, 
Comfort  the  mourners,  strengthen  those  who  faint, 
That  Sion  thus  may  shake  herself,  and  shine 
With  the  bright  lustre  of  her  ancient  days." 


THE   END, 


BTEEEOTTPED  BY  L.  JOHNSON  &  CO. 
PHILADELPHU. 


This  Memoir  of  Nathan  Hunt  is  published 
with  the  sanction  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
Friends  of  North  Carolina. 


BRIEF  MEMOIR 


OP 


NATHAN   HUNT: 


CHIEFLY  EXTRACTED 


JOURNAL  AND  LETTERS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
URIAH    HUNT    &    SON, 

62  NORTH  FOURTH  STREET. 

LONDON: 

ALFRED  W.  BENNETT,  5  BISHOrSGATE  STREET  WITHOUT. 

1858. 


CONTENTS 


Testimony  fkom  Springfield  Monthly  Meeting        .     .      3 

Memoir       , 15 

Letters  to  his  Wipe        40 

Letters  to  Various  Persons        99 

Addenda 157 

(2) 


HEARS  &  DUSENBERT,  STEREOTTPERS. 
ROBB,  PILE  &  M'ELROY,  PRINTERS. 


A   TESTIMONY 

FROM 

SPRINGFIELD  MONTHLY  MEETING, 

CONCERNING 

NATHAN  HUNT. 


From  a  regard  for  the  memory  of  this  our 
dear  friend,  and  the  lively  recollections  we  have 
of  his  fervent  religious  engagements  and  pious 
labours  amongst  us,  we  feel  engaged  to  preserve 
a  brief  Memorial  concerning  him,  in  the  hope 
that  it  may  prove  instructive  and  encouraging 
to  survivors  to  contemplate  the  course  of  one 
who  was  so  much  devoted  to  the  service  of  his 
Divine  Master. 

He  was  born  in  the  verge  of  New  Garden 
Monthly  Meeting,  Guilford  county,  North  Caro- 
lina, the  26th  of  the  10th  month,  1758.     His 


A   TESTIMONY 


parents  were  William  and  Sarah  Hunt,  both 
members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  the  former 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

According  to  his  own  account,  he  was  in  early 
life  made  sensible  of  the  tendering  visitations 
of  the  love  of  God,  notwithstanding  he  was 
naturally  of  a  lively  and  volatile  disposition, 
and  in  some  measure  given  to  lightness.  When 
about  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  had  a  reaching 
visitation,  and  a  renewed  view  of  being  called 
to  the  ministry  ;  but,  for  want  of  faithfully 
abiding  under  the  solemn  impression,  he  gradu- 
ally again  partook  in  associations  with  jovial 
companions.  But  he  experienced  frequent  re- 
newals of  those  impressions,  giving  him  a  ground 
of  hope,  that,  notwithstanding  his  remissness, 
he  was  not  forsaken.  He  was  mercifully  pre- 
served, even  in  his  greatest  departure,  from 
gross  evils,  or  a  departure  from  the  peculiari- 
ties of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  relation  to 
speech  and  apparel. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Martha  Ruck- 
man,  in  the  20th  year  of  his  age,  and  soon  after 


CONCERNING    NATHAN    HUNT.  O 

he  was  closely  tried  by  the  sudden  death  of  his 
mother. 

About  this  time,  the  Revolutionary  war  com- 
ing on,  he  experienced  much  privation  by  being 
robbed  of  his  horses,  cattle,  and  other  property, 
leaving  him  almost  destitute  of  the  necessary 
means  of  subsistence ;  all  of  which  he  bore  with 
Christian  fortitude. 

His  first  appearance  in  the  ministry  was  in 
the  twenty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  when  he 
spoke  a  few  words  in  a  meeting  in  the  State  of 
Tennessee.  Thus  he  continued,  speaking  a  few 
words  at  a  time,  for  about  two  years — his  min- 
istry carrying  the  evidence  that  it  was  in  the 
power  of  truth. 

In  the  thirty-first  year  of  his  age  he  experi- 
enced another  severe  trial,  by  the  death  of  his 
beloved  wife.  Being  thus  left  with  the  sole 
charge  of  six  small  children,  in  which  situation 
he  remained  more  than  three  years,  when  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Prudence  Thorn- 
burgh.  Shortly  after  which  he  removed  and 
settled  at  Pine  Woods  Meeting,  within  the  verge 


6  A    TESTIMONY 

of  Springfield  Monthly  Meeting,  where,  in  the 
thirty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  year 
1792,  he  was  acknowledged  as  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  and  from  that  time  to  1796  he  fre- 
quently attended  the  neighbouring  meetings, 
where  his  labours  were  satisfactory  and  edify- 
ing. His  first  travel  as  a  minister  was  to  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia,  in  the  year  1796. 

He  being  under  deep  exercise  of  mind  on  ac- 
count of  leaving  his  family,  who  were  dependent 
on  him,  he  has  been  heard  to  say,  on  that  occa- 
sion, that  while  following  his  plough,  he  heard 
a  voice  distinctly  say  to  him:  Go,  and  thou 
shalt  lack  nothing,  and  thy  family  shall  be 
cared  for  in  thy  absence.  The  impression  was 
so  convincing  that  he  instantly  gave  up,  accept- 
ing it  as  an  intimation  from  the  Lord  that  he 
would  make  way  for  him.  In  the  year  1797 
he  obtained  a  minute  of  unity  and  concurrence 
to  appoint  meetings  westward  as  far  as  Lost 
Creek,  in  the  State  of  Tennessee.  In  the  year 
1798  he  obtained  a  certificate,  liberating  him 
to  perform  a  religious  visit   to   Friends  and 


CONCERNING   NATHAN    HUNT.  7 

Others  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States, 
■which  visits  he  performed  in  the  following  year. 
In  the  years  1801,  1802,  and  1803,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  attending  and  appointing  meetings 
within  the  limits  of  North  Carolina  Yearly 
Meeting,  and  in  attending  Virginia  Yearly 
Meeting,  and  some  of  the  meetings  belonging 
thereto.  In  the  year  1804  he  obtained  a  cer- 
tificate and  performed  a  religious  visit  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States. 
In  the  year  1805  he  was  engaged  in  visiting  the 
Western  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  appointing 
some  meetings  adjacent  thereto.  Also,  attend- 
ed Baltimore  Yearly  Meeting,  and  some  meet- 
ings in  Maryland  and  Virginia.  From  1805  to 
1810,  he  was  mostly  engaged  in  visiting  meet- 
ings belonging  to  North  Carolina  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, and  appointing  meetings  within  the  limits 
of  the  diiferent  Quarterly  Meetings,  and  some 
out  from  amongst  Friends.  In  the  year  1810 
he  obtained  a  certificate  liberating  him  to  per- 
form a  religious  visit  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Western  Virginia,  the  Middle  States,  some  In- 


8  A   TESTIMONY 

dian  tribes,  Canada,  and  the  eastern  parts  of 
New  England  ;  which  visit  he  performed  in  the 
year  1811.  In  this  year  he  removed  from  Pine 
Woods,  and  settled  near  Springfield,  in  Guil- 
ford county,  of  which  Monthly  Meeting  he  con- 
tinued a  member  during  the  rest  of  his  life. 
From  1811  to  1814  his  religious  services  were 
within  the  limits  of  North  Carolina  Yearly 
Meeting  in  attending  meetings,  visiting  fami- 
lies, and  appointing  meetings  from  amongst 
Friends.  In  the  year  1814  he  obtained  a  cer- 
tificate and  performed  a  religious  visit  to 
Friends  in  parts  of  Virginia,  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  and  Indiana,  and  in  the  year  1815  he 
performed  a  religious  visit  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Virginia,  and 
elsewhere. 

During  the  years  1816  and  1817,  he  was 
mostly  engaged  in  appointing  meetings  in  the 
adjacent  neighbourhoods,  and  attending  the 
Western  and  Westfield  Quarterly  Meetings. 

In  the  year  1818,  he  obtained  the  necessary 
certificates  liberating  him  to  perform  a  religious 


CONCERNING    NATUAN    HUNT.  \) 

visit  to  Friends  and  others  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland ;  but,  in  consequence  of  affliction  in  his 
family,  he  was  prevented  from  performing  said 
visit  until  the  years  1820  and  1821,  in  which 
years  that  service  was  accomplished. 

From  1822  to  1831,  his  religious  services 
were  mostly  within  the  limits  of  North  Caro- 
lina Yearly  Meeting,  during  which  time  he 
twice  visited  Bush  River  Meeting  in  South 
Carolina,  and  once  to  Newbern  and  Beaufort. 

In  1831,  being  under  appointment  from  the 
Yearly  Meeting  to  attend  Virginia  Yearly 
Meeting,  and  a  General  Conference  of  Friends 
in  Philadelphia,  he  obtained  a  certificate  and 
performed  a  religious  visit  to  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ings in  Virginia,  New  England,  and  Ohio,  and 
appointed  meetings  on  his  way  going  and  re- 
turning. From  all  these  visits  he  returned  with 
satisfactory  testimonials  of  the  unity  of  Friends 
among  whom  he  travelled. 

In  the  year  1832,  he  obtained  a  certificate 
to  perform  a  religious  visit  to  Indiana  Yearly 
Meeting  and  some  of  the  meetings  constituting 


10  A    TESTIMONY 

it,  but  on  account  of  bodily  infirmity  he  was 
unable  to  perform  the  visit. 

From  this  time  he  travelled  but  little  from 
home ;  but  often  attended  in  Truth's  service 
the  meetings  in  the  adjacent  country,  and  while 
at  Raleigh,  under  appointment  from  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  he  appointed  a  meeting  in  that  city. 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  remark,  that  on 
the  27th  of  7th  month,  1829,  he  experienced 
another  affecting  dispensation  in  the  death  of 
his  beloved  wife,  after  which  he  continued  to 
reside  with  his  son  Thomas,  until  the  year 
1848,  when  he  went  to  reside  with  his  son-in- 
law,  Joshua  Stanley,  at  Centre.  He  was  ever 
diligent  in  the  faithful  attendance  of  his  reli- 
gious meetings,  wherein  he  was  often  led  to 
labour  in  the  power  of  Truth.  In  the  latter 
years  of  his  life,  through  age  and  infirmity  he 
was  unable  to  attend  religious  meetings,  yet 
he  was  green  in  old  age,  enjoying  the  company 
of  Friends,  and  instant  in  exhorting  his  child- 
ren and  all  who  came  to  visit  him,  to  improve 
time  while  they  had  it,  in  attending  to  the  still 


CONCERNING   NATHAN    HUNT.  11 

small  voice  in  their  own  hearts,  acknowledging 
that  Truth  had  been  his  shield  and  buckler,  his 
bow  and  battle-axe,  through  the  many  tribula- 
tions that  had  fallen  to  his  lot. 

He  was  sound  in  doctrine  ;  his  ministry  w^as 
profound,  deep,  and  searching,  to  the  awaken- 
ing and  arousing  of  the  lukewarm ;  but  as  the 
oil  and  the  wine  to  the  rightly  exercised.  And 
having  himself  drunk  deep  of  the  cup  of  adver- 
sity, he  was  ever  ready  to  speak  a  word  in 
season  to  those  who  were  weary  and  heavy 
laden. 

lie  was  faithful  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
Discipline  of  the  Church,  and  active  in  the 
transaction  of  all  business  relating  to  it.  He 
was  ever  ready  to  advise  and  counsel  those 
who  were  labouring  under  discouragements,  and 
prompt  in  reproving  all  manner  of  disorder, 
and  to  labour  with  offenders  in  the  love  and 
meekness  of  a  Christian.  Of  him  might  well 
be  adopted  the  language  of  Enoch,  ''that  he 
walked  with  God."  In  the  midst  of  his  varied 
engagements,  he  was  especially  careful  not  to 


12  A   TESTIMONY 

neglect  the  primary  duty  of  private  retire- 
ment for  prayer  and  self-examination.  In  his 
private  walks  he  was  ever  ready  to  advise  and 
admonish  those  with  whom  he  associated.  He 
was  kind  and  affectionate,  and  easy  in  his 
manners,  scrupulously  careful  properly  to  use 
the  plain  Scripture  language  in  all  his  conver- 
sation. He  was  remarkable  for  his  liberality 
and  charitableness  in  all  the  private  walks  of 
life.  He  was  an  ardent  admirer  of  proper  and 
useful  education,  and  liberal  in  the  support  of 
schools.  For  although  he  by  no  means  ac- 
knowledged the  necessity  of  human  learning  as 
a  qualification  for  the  ministry,  or  any  other 
station  in  the  Church,  yet  he  believed  it  highly 
important  that  all  the  powers  of  the  mind,  both 
intellectual  and  moral,  should  be  duly  trained 
and  cultivated  ;  and  feeling  the  need  of  educa- 
tion himself,  he  was  the  more  earnest  in  his 
efforts  to  procure  for  the  rising  generation 
those  advantages  which  had  been  withheld 
from  him.  He,  from  the  first,  took  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of 


CONCERNING   NATHAN    HUNT.  13 

our  Boarding  School,  and  after  the  Institution 
went  into  operation  he  was  frequently  there 
exhorting  both  the  oflScers  and  students  to  a 
proper  discharge  of  their  respective  duties ;  and 
we  believe  the  influence  he  exerted  at  such 
times  has  not  been  without  its  effect  on  the 
subsequent  character  of  those  who  were  thus 
privileged  to  associate  with  him.  He  was 
much  concerned  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  to 
exhort  his  children  and  friends  to  faithfulness 
in  improving  the  time  and  talents  committed 
to  their  trust.  He  evinced  a  great  concern 
for  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  and  for  the  pre- 
servation of  society,  that  it  might  not  slide  into 
the  vain  customs,  maxims,  and  favours  of  the 
world.  And  after  having  stood  more  than 
sixty  years  as  a  minister,  a  faithful  watchman, 
and  a  father  and  a  pillar  in  the  Church,  he 
laid  down  his  head  in  peace,  and  doubtless  is 
gathered  with  the  righteous  of  all  generations, 
whose  example  seems  to  say  to  survivors.  Come 
follow  me,  as  I  have  endeavoured  to  follow 
Christ. 


11    A    TESTIMONY   CONCEKNIN(i    NATHAN    HUNT. 

His  last  sickness  was  of  a  very  distressing 
nature,  being  a  cancerous  tumour,  which  had 
been  for  several  years  past  making  its  appear- 
ance at  times  on  the  side  of  his  face.  A  few 
months  previous  to  his  death,  it  assumed  a 
very  malignant  character,  causing  extreme 
pain  and  most  trying  restlessness,  so  that  he 
was  unable  to  sleep  much ;  yet  frequent  ejacu- 
lations were  heard  from  him,  and  short  sen- 
tences, showing  where  his  mind  was  centered. 
He  said  he  should  ^'be  with  Moses  and  the 
Lamb,"  and  called  for  his  good  Shepherd  to 
come  and  take  him  away. 

And  on  second-day  morning,  the  8th  day  of 
8th  month,  1853,  he  quietly  passed  away,  as 
going  into  a  sweet  sleep ;  and  on  fourth-day,  the 
10th  of  the  month,  his  remains  were  conveyed 
to  Springfield,  on  which  occasion  a  meeting 
was  held,  which  was  attended  by  a  large  con- 
course of  people,  after  which  he  was  interred 
in  Friends'  burying-ground  there.  He  was, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  the  95th  year  of 
his  age. 


A  BRIEF  MEMOIR 

OF 

NATHAN   HUNT, 

CHIEFLY  EXTRACTED  FROM  HIS  LETTERS  AND  JOURNAL. 


How  instructive  and  how  animating  it  is,  to 
contemplate  the  steps  of  those  dedicated  ser- 
vants of  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  have  been  as 
way-marks  on  the  road  to  Zion ;  for  "  the  path 
of  the  just  is  as  a  shining  light — shining  more 
and  more  unto  the  perfect  day."  Perhaps  few 
individuals  in  the  society  of  which  he  was  so 
long  a  dignified  and  honoured  member,  have 
been  more  extensively  known  or  more  gene- 
rally beloved  and  valued  than  the  subject  of 
this  little  memoir ;  and  though  the  greater  part 
of  his  contemporaries  have  long  since  passed 
away,  there  are  many  still  remaining  who  well 
remember  the  erect  and  manly  form  of  the 
aged  Christian,   his  plain  drab  clothes,   dark 

(IG) 


16  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

vest,  the  striking  outline  of  his  noble  counte- 
nance, his  broad  and  open  forehead,  shaded 
with  silvery  locks — but  most  of  all  his  cour- 
teous demeanour,  his  simple  but  polite  and 
graceful  manner,  and  that  best  ornament,  "  a 
meek  and  quiet  spirit,"  which  was  indeed  so 
eminently  his ;  and  some  no  doubt  there  are, 
who  can  recall  his  hospitable  but  humble  habi- 
tation— behold  him  as  the  venerated  head  of 
his  own  family,  dispensing  a  sweet  influence  of 
peace  and  joy  on  all  around  him.  His  heart 
was  filled  with  the  love  of  the  everlasting 
Gospel,  in  which  he  could  salute  as  brethren, 
the  whole  family  of  man.  He  knew  that  "  the 
end  of  the  commandment  is  charity ;"  out  of  a 
pure  heart  and  a  good  conscience  and  faith 
unfeigned,"  and  the  expressive  language  of  his 
life  and  conversation  might  be  said  to  be,  "  we 
are  journeying  to  the  land  of  which  the  Lord 
our  God  hath  said,  I  will  give  it  you.  Come 
thou  with  us,  and  we  will  do  thee  good ;  for 
God  hath  spoken  good  concerning  Israel." 

Being  naturally  of  a  diffident,  retiring  dispo- 
sition, and  fearful  of  saying  much  of  himself,  he 
has  left  but  few  memoranda;  yet  by  the  aid  of 
these  and  some  truly  characteristic  letters  of 
early  and  later  date,  we  may  be  able  to  furnish 


TRAITS   OP   CHARACTER.  17 

a  brief  outline  of  his  somewhat  chequered  path 
to  everlasting  blessedness.  It  may  also  be  well 
to  enumerate  a  few  of  the  distinguishing  traits 
of  his  character,  as  they  impressed  the  writer  of 
this  little  sketch,  who  had  many  opportunities 
of  becoming  intimately  acquainted  with  him. 
He  had  naturally  a  clear  and  comprehensive 
mind,  a  vigorous  intellect,  and  sound  discrimi- 
nating judgment ;  but  very  few  advantages  of 
education.  Indeed  he  has  been  heard  to  say, 
that  the  principal  part  of  the  learning  he  had, 
was  acquired  by  the  light  of  a  "  pine-knot"  as 
he  sat  with  his  brothers  and  sisters  round  the 
family  hearth,  when  the  day's  work  was  done. 
lie  was,  however,  deeply  instructed  in  the 
school  of  Christ ;  and  with  the  salutary  disci- 
pline of  the  cross,  he  was  made  familiar  from 
his  early  childhood.  In  later  life  there  was  a 
striking  gravity  and  dignity  about  the  dear  old 
man,  and  at  times  a  deep  introversion  of  spirit 
which  seemed  to  check  the  least  approach  to 
lightness  and  frivolity,  and  spread  a  holy  quiet- 
ness on  all  around  him ;  so  that  it  might  with 
great  propriety  be  said  of  Tiim^  as  it  was  of  the 
excellent  founder  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
'^  His  very  presence  expressed  a  religious  ma- 
jesty."    This  seriousness,  however,  was  beau- 


18  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

tifully  blended  with  Christian  cheerfulness ; 
for  he  well  knew  what  it  was  to  wash  and 
anoint  in  the  presence  of  his  brethren,  while 
plunged  into  deep  and  humbling  exercise  of 
soul  before  the  Lord — remembering  the  Apos- 
tolic injunction,  "  Rejoice  evermore,  and  in  all 
things  give  thanks."  One  little  incident  may 
serve  to  illustrate  the  wisdom  and  discretion 
which  might  be  said  to  govern  all  his  actions. 
A  short  time  previous  to  his  attaining  the  age 
of  fourscore,  he  resigned  his  seat  at  the  head 
of  the  meeting,  observing  that  he  felt  best 
satisfied  to  do  so,  while  still  in  the  possession 
of  his  mental  faculties,  lest  he  might  be  in- 
clined to  retain  it  when  they  became  impaired, 
and  when  he  was  no  longer  able  to  discern  the 
true  time  for  closing  the  meeting. 

His  grandchildren  appear  to  have  been  a 
constant  pleasure  to  him.  In  many  of  his 
letters  to  his  friends,  he  has  given  graphic  pic- 
tures of  his  little  pets  ;  and  there  are  those 
who  can  remember  to  have  seen  the  aged  pil- 
grim sitting  at  the  door  of  his  humble  dwelling 
leaning  on  the  top  of  his  staff,  and  watching 
with  deep  interest  their  childish  gambols,  while 
his  benign  yet  grave  and  thoughtful  coun- 
tenance seemed  to  express  the  patriarchal  bene- 


FAMILY   SITTINGS.  19 

diction,  "  The  God  who  has  fed  me  all  my  life 
long  unto  this  day,  the  angel  which  redeemed 
me  from  all  evil,  bless  the  lads." 

Though  free  from  sectarianism,  he  was 
warmly  attached  to  those  who  were  of  the 
same  household  of  faith,  and  the  welfare  of  the 
society  in  which  he  esteemed  it  a  privilege  to 
have  had  a  birthright  membership,  continued 
to  the  close  of  his  life,  to  be  very  near  to  his 
heart.  The  practice  of  retirement  and  silent- 
waiting  before  the  Lord,  was  one  which  he 
assiduously  cultivated  in  himself  and  strongly 
recommended  to  his  friends. 

Many  who  have  been  inmates  of  his  hospi- 
table dwelling,  can  now  recall  the  serious  and 
emphatic  manner  in  which  the  evening  chapter 
was  read ;  and  then  the  solemn  stillness  that 
succeeded,  broken  at  times  by  an  expression 
of  thanksgiving  for  their  many  mercies,  or  an 
impressive  exhortation  to  the  little  grand- 
children collected  round  him.  To  these  he 
usually  put  questions  on  the  chapter  they  had 
heard ;  and  when  this  season  was  over,  which 
was  often  one  of  real  refreshment,  he  would 
take  an  affectionate  leave,  and  opening  the 
door  into  his  little  bed-room  retire  without  a 
light,  and  there  pass  many  an  hour  (we  cannot 


20  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

doubt)  in  sweet  and  heavenly  communion  ;  for 
when  his  household  met  him  on  the  following 
day,  the  precious  influence  of  his  gathered 
spirit  seemed  to  be  shed  like  holy  dew  upon 
them,  giving  an  evidence  that  he  had  been 
with  Jesus. 

Possessing  an  uncommon  share  of  native 
eloquence,  and  dwelling  very  near  to  the  alone 
source  of  all  true  gospel  ministry,  he  was  in- 
deed enabled  to  "  do  the  work  of  an  Evangel- 
ist," and  there  was  such  an  unction  and  fresh- 
ness attending  his  religious  communications, 
they  often  made  a  deep  impression  on  those 
that  heard  them.  A  valued  friend  who  was 
engaged  in  a  religious  visit  to  North  Carolina 
a  few  years  before  the  death  of  this  dedicated 
Christian,  gives  the  following  vivid  description 
of  him  : — "  The  aged  patriarch,  Nathan  Hunt, 
is  now  in  his  ninetieth  year,  and  as  to  bodily 
power  is  feeble  and  infirm,  walking  slowly  and 
bendingly,  with  a  stick.  His  memory,  also,  espe- 
cially with  regard  to  recent  events,  is  a  little 
impaired — but  there  he  sits,  in  his  arm-chair, 
by  the  crackling  fire,  the  veteran  soldier  of 
Christ — his  heart  still  warm  wdth  love  to  the 
cause,  his  tongue  still  eloquent  in  thanksgiv- 
ing and  praise.     *  I  have  much  to  be  thankful 


EAllLY    LIFE.  21 

for,'  said  the  old  champion,  '  my  very  heart 
feels  it — I  love  to  see  the  Lord's  messengers 
under  my  roof,  or  rather  the  roof  of  my  child- 
ren. My  soul  is  still  exercised  for  the  peace 
and  prosperity  of  Zion'  (his  eyes  filling  with 
tears.)  His  spiritual  faculties  and  perceptions 
are  remarkably  clear,  and  he  converses  with  an 
unfaltering  voice  about  the  things  of  the  king- 
dom. His  remarks  are  pertinent,  his  words 
seasoned  with  grace.  It  is  truly  cheering  to 
see  an  aged  pilgrim  thus  bright  in  the  midst  of 
years,  with  a  cheerful  spirit  and  a  thankful 
heart,  peacefully  waiting  for  the  coming  of  his 
Lord — having  fought  the  good  fight,  kept  the 
faith,  and  well  nigh  finished  his  course,  still 
magnifying,  not  himself,  but  his  office,  and 
ascribing  all  the  glory  unto  Him  in  w^hom  he 
has  believed,  and  from  whom  he  humbly  hopes 
to  receive  that  crown  of  righteousness  which  is 
laid  up  for  all  who  love  His  appearing.  I  find 
it  good  to  be  here ;  there  is  a  solid  satisfaction 
in  thus  witnessing  the  power  of  true  religion." 
The  account  of  his  early  life  may  be  given 
in  his  own  words: — "I  was  born,"  said  he, 
"  in  the  neighbourhood  of  New  Garden  meet- 
ing-house, the  26th  day  of  tenth  month,  1758. 
My  worthy  parents,  William  and  Sarah  Hunt, 


22  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

were  both  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
the  former  a  valuable  minister  among  them. 
He  died  whilst  on  a  religious  visit  to  England, 
at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  in  the  thirty-ninth  year 
of  his  age,  leaving  a  widow  and  eight  child- 
ren, of  whom  I  was  the  third,  and  in  my  four- 
teenth year,  when  my  father  died.  I  well  remem- 
ber his  pious  instructions,  and  my  being  humbled 
under  them  in  early  life.  Something  of  a 
solemn  nature  seemed  to  overspread  my  mind. 
I  loved  to  be  alone ;  and  at  the  age  of  seven 
years  I  was  impressed  with  the  belief  that  if  I 
was  faithful,  I  should  one  day  have  to  preach 
the  Gospel.  I  was,  by  nature,  very  volatile, 
and  much  inclined  to  childish  lightness,  but  I 
can  remember  that  my  mind  was  often  very 
seriously  impressed,  while  sitting  in  religious 
meetings,  attending  funerals,  and  on  other 
similar  occasions.  When  about  twelve  or  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  while  in  the  circle  of  my 
youthful  friends,  and  the  ringleader  of  their 
mirth  and  jollity,  I  have,  at  different  times, 
been  broken  into  tears,  and  had  to  leave  them 
suddenly.  A  very  reaching  visitation,  when 
about  seventeen,  I  well  remember.  A  renewed 
view  of  being  called  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, so  clearly  presented  to  my  mind,  I  some- 


UIH    MARRIAGE.  23 

times  thought  the  time  had  come  for  me  to 
speak  in  meetings,  but  for  want  of  abiding 
under  the  solemn  weight,  I  gradually  got  oft* 
into  association  with  my  jovial  companions 
again,  and  the  impression  grew  fainter ;  but 
through  the  whole  of  this  period  there  were 
frequent  renewals  of  these  solemn  feelings, 
giving  me  the  humble  hope  that  notwithstand- 
ing my  rebellion,  I  was  not  forsaken.  And  I 
was  mercifully  preserved,  even  in  my  greatest 
departure  from  what  the  world  would  term 
gross  evils,  and  also  in  plainness  and  simpli- 
city of  speech  and  apparel.  When  twenty 
years  of  age,  I  married  Martha  Ruckman,  and 
we  continued  to  reside  on  the  same  spot  where 
I  was  born.  I  was  now  introduced  into  a  new 
sphere  of  life.  This  had  a  serious  effect  upon 
me,  feeling  the  importance  of  my  situation ; 
but  nothing  worthy  of  remark  occurred  until  I 
had  been  married  several  months,  when  my 
mind  was  awakened  and  tendered  by  the  very 
sudden  removal  of  my  valued  mother.  She 
went  to  bed  in  usual  health,  and  was  disco- 
vered by  my  sister  in  the  morning  in  a  lifeless 
state.  I  had  attended  meetings  pretty  con- 
stantly most  of  my  life,  but  now  I  was  still 
more  regular  in  the  attendance  of  them,  and 


24  MEMOIll    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

when  in  them  great  seriousness  often  came  over 
me.  About  this  time  I  was  placed  in  imminent 
danger ;  within  an  hair's  breadth  of  being  called 
into  eternity.         ***** 

"  This  introduced  me  into  very  serious  consi- 
deration on  the  uncertainty  of  time,  and  an 
increase  of  concern  prevailed,  that  I  might  be 
in  readiness  to  meet  the  change,  come  when  it 
might.  While  sitting  in  religious  meetings,  at 
this  period,  a  scripture  text  frequently  opened 
before  me  with  great  clearness,  but  through 
diffidence  and  fear  I  refused  to  give  up,  often 
sitting  under  such  weight  that  the  bench  shook 
under  me ;  and  whilst  this  deep  exercise  was 
upon  me  1  was  afflicted  with  sickness  nigh  unto 
death.  My  friends  and  connexions  stood  by 
my  bed-side,  expecting  every  hour  would  be  my 
last.*' 

He  then  describes  a  vision  he  had,  in  which 
a  large  field  of  service  was  opened  before  him, 
in  the  New  England  States,  and  thus  pro- 
ceeds : — 

"I  then  returned  to  myself  again,  and 
seemed  so  revived  that  I  told  my  wife  I  should 
live.  It  appeared  clear  to  me  I  should  be 
called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  labour 
in  that  part  of  the  vineyard.     My  health  and 


APPEARANCE    IN    THE    iMINISTIlY.  25 

strength  were  rapidly  restored,  and  after  pass- 
ing through  great  suffering,  on  account  of  the 
reluctance  of  nature  to  yield,  I  finally  gave  up 
to  what  appeared  to  be  required  of  me,  and  in 
the  twenty-seventh  year  of  my  age  spoke  a 
very  few  words  in  a  meeting  in  Tennessee, 
which  brought  great  peace  and  comfort  into  my 
mind.  The  first  time  I  appeared  in  my  own 
meeting,  so  great  was  my  brokenness  of  spirit, 
that  as  I  walked  towards  home  tears  fell  from 
my  eyes  like  drops  of  rain.  In  the  thirty-first 
year  of  my  age  my  wife  deceased,  leaving  me 
six  small  children,  the  eldest  ten  years  old,  the 
youngest  but  eight  days.  Her  peace  was  made, 
her  close  was  a  triumphant  one,  but  I  was  left 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  an  amiable  and  kind  com- 
panion. My  situation  was  a  very  trying  one. 
I  had  considerable  difficulty  in  bringing  up  my 
children,  and  in  a  little  more  than  three  years 
afterward  married  my  second  wife.  Her  name 
was  Prudence  Thornburgh.  She  was  a  true 
helpmate  to  me,  and  a  tender  mother  to  my 
children,  always  giving  me  up  with  cheerful- 
ness to  attend  to  my  religious  engagements, 
and  encouraging  me  in  them,  taking  the  charge 
of  my  concerns  at  homo,  and  managing  them 
with  much  ability.     She  was  for  many  years 


26  MEMUni    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

in  the  station  of  an  elder,  and  set  a  good  ex- 
ample in  tlic  regular  attendance  of  all  our  reli- 
gious meetings. 

"About  the  thirty-fifth  year  of  my  age,  I 
was  acknowledged  as  a  minister,  and  after  this 
I  frequently  attended  neighbouring  meetings ; 
but  the  first  journey  that  I  made  of  any  length 
was  in  the  year  1797,  to  Georgia  and  South 
Carolina.  Being  under  great  exercise  of  mind, 
on  account  of  leaving  my  beloved  family,  who 
were  dependent  on  the  labour  of  my  hands, 
one  day,  while  following  my  plough,  I  heard  a 
voice  distinctly  say  to  me,  '  Go,  and  thou  shalt 
lack  nothing,  and  they  shall  be  cared  for  in 
thy  absence.'  The  impression  was  so  convinc- 
ing that  I  instantly  gave  up,  accepting  it  as  an 
intimation  from  the  Lord  that  he  would  make 
way  for  me,  and  take  care  of  them.  At  the 
next  Monthly  Meeting  I  opened  the  prospect 
to  my  friends,  who  cordially  united  with  it,  and 
furnished  me  with  the  necessary  certificates.  I 
laboured  day  and  night  to  obtain  a  little  money 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  my  journey ;  but  the 
sum  thus  collected  was  by  no  means  sufficient 
for  the  purpose,  and  I  left  my  home  relying  on 
the  promise  that  I  should  lack  nothing." 

[Having  attended  many  meetings  in  Georgia 


VISIT   TO    NEW    ENGLAND.  27 

and  Carolina,  and  met  with  some  remarkable 
confirmations  of  his  faith,  he  says : — 

"  Returning  home,  I  found  my  family  well, 
and  all  things  comfortable,  having  the  same 
sum  in  my  pocket  I  had  on  leaving  home,  from 
which  I  had  been  absent  about  six  weeks,  and 
travelled  above  seven  hundred  miles,  thus 
strengthening  my  trust  and  confidence  in  him 
who  yet  remains  to  be  a  covenant-keeping  God, 
having  so  wonderfully  fulfilled  the  promise  made 
me  at  the  plough,  '  Go,  and  thou  shalt  lack  no- 
thing, thou  nor  thine.'  " 

In  allusion  to  the  great  openness  he  met  with 
in  the  course  of  his  journey,  N.  H.  remarks : — 

"  0,  the  necessity  for  an  indwelling  among 
Friends,  that  they  might  carefully  uphold  our 
testimonies,  and  gather  to,  rather  than  scatter 
from  us.  In  the  year  1799,  in  the  eleventh 
month,  I  laid  a  prospect  before  the  Monthly 
Meeting  to  visit  in  Gospel  love  the  Northern 
and  Eastern  States,  which  was  freely  united 
with. 

"  My  circumstances  were  still  very  limited, 
and  I  felt  it  a  hard  thing  to  forsake  my  wife  in 
her  then  trying  situation,  but  trusting  in  the 
promises  of  Him  who  never  yet  had  failed  to 
help  and  strengthen  me,  I  set  out  peacefully 


28  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT.  ^ 

on  my  journey,  remembering  the  vision  that  1 
had  upon  my  bed  respecting  this  part  of  the 
heritage,  which  I  before  alluded  to,  and  which 
was  most  remarkably  fulfilled  during  my  visit 
to  the  Eastern  States. 

"  The  prospect  of  this  journey  altogether, 
and  more  especially,  perhaps,  my  going  into 
Philadelphia  (which  I  had  long  considered  a 
great  place,  famous  for  men  of  erudition,  while 
I  had  but  little  school  education),  was,  as  may 
be  supposed,  a  very  humbling  one.  But  lie 
who  put  me  forth  was  mouth  and  wisdom,  tongue 
and  utterance,  which  seemed  an  answer  to  my 
constant  prayer  that  this  might  be  the  case,  feel- 
ing deeply  sensible  that  my  entire  dependence 
must  be  on  him,  and  that  without  his  aid  I  could 
do  nothing.  So  great  and  wonderful  was  his 
assistance,  that  many  hardly  could  believe  I  had 
not  received  a  good  education.  Blessed  be  his 
name  for  ever  !  My  Heavenly  Father  has  been 
gracious  to  me  beyond  what  I  could  ask  or  think." 

From  1800  to  1810,  N.  H.  was  frequently 
engaged  in  the  service  of  his  Divine  Master, 
chiefly  within  the  limits  of  his  own  Yearly 
Meeting,  except  that,  in  1805,  he  visited  most 
of  the  meetings  constituting  Baltimore  and 
Virginia  Yearly  Meetings. 


MEETINGS   WITH    THE   INDIANS.  29 

"1810 — I  kid  before  my  Monthly  Meeting  a 
concern  to  visit  the  western  parts  of  Virginia, 
Pennsylvania,  and  New  York  (some  Indian 
tribes  at  Buffalo  and  Cattaraugus,  and  at  Cold 
Spring  Village),  all  the  Friends'  Meetings  that 
were  then  in  Canada,  and  some  particular 
places  in  New  England.  In  the  back  parts 
of  Pennsylvania,  I  had  many  difficulties  to  en- 
counter— receiving,  too,  some  tokens  of  Apos- 
tleship  *  In  perils  in  the  wilderness,  hunger 
and  thirst,'  &c. ;  but  in,  and  through  them  all, 
my  gracious  Helper  moTvellously  sustained 
me,  bringing  me  forth  to  magnify  his  name. 
During  our  stay  at  Cold  Spring  Village,  we 
had  two  remarkable  meetings  with  the  Indians : 
the  great  solemnity  prevailing  was  very  re- 
markable throughout  the  meeting,  and  in  the 
time  of  supplication  I  thought  I  never  felt  a 
covering  more  solemn  rest  on  an  assembly 
anywhere — they  seemed  to  feel  what  ivas  peti- 
tioned for  them.  The  one  at  Cattaraugus  was 
not  quite  so  satisfactory  ;  and  when  at  Buffalo, 
the  Indians  had  gone  out  hunting,  so  that  wo 
could  not  easily  have  them  called,  but  had  a 
large  and  favoured  meeting  with  the  people  of 
the  town. 


so  MEMOIR    OF    NATILAN    HUNT. 

Meetings  in  Canada  were  very  trying,  the  state 
of  society  was  low  indeed.  From  thence  I 
went  on  to  the  states  of  Vermont,  Connecticut, 
Rhode  Island;  so  on  to  New  Bedford  and 
Nantucket,  in  both  which  places  I  visited  all 
the  families  of  Friends ;  from  thence  returned 
homeward,  taking  meetings  in  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia, 
and  through  all,  the  Lord  preserved  me  mer- 
cifully and  wonderfully — '  Blessed  for  ever  be 
his  worthy  name.' 

''  In  the  first  month  of  1814, 1  got  permission 
from  my  Monthly  Meeting  to  visit  families  of 
Springfield  Monthly  Meeting,  which  visit  I 
performed  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind.  In 
the  same  year  I  visited  parts  of  Virginia,  Penn- 
sylvania, Ohio,  and  Indiana,  as  way  appeared 
to  open,  with  the  full  unity  and  approbation 
of  my  friends  at  home,  in  the  performance  of 
which  I  experienced  many  deep  baptisms  and 
close  provings,  had  many  large  and  truly  fa- 
voured meetings,  sometimes  laid  very  low,  and 
then  raised  up  again  ;  frequently  introduced 
into  humbling  consideration  of  the  great  neces- 
sity of  a  living,  Gospel,  ministry  ;  and  that  we, 
wlio  are  engaged  as  ambassadors  for  Christ, 


MEETING    AT    DAYTON.  31 

might  be  faithful  in  all  things  to  our  divine 
Master,  was  the  earnest  breathing  of  my  soul. 
My  mind  was  often  tried  with  the  great  dispo- 
sion  of  the  people  to  look  outward,  craving  for 
words,  and  I  was  sometimes  led  to  sit  in 
silence  a  long  time,  until  their  expectation  had 
somewhat  subsided,  and  then  I  was  enabled 
oftentimes  to  show  to  them  the  need  there  is 
of  centering  down  in  solemn  stillness,  that  we 
might  be  fed  with  the  true  bread  which  cometh 
down  from  heaven,  and  can  alone  sustain  the 
immortal  soul,  and  nourish  it  up  unto  eternal 
life ;  quoting  our  blessed  Lord's  expression  to 
the  woman  whom  he  met  at  Jacob's  well.  At 
a  large  public  meeting  that  I  had  at  Dayton, 
there  was  a  company  of  soldiers  present,  and  I 
was  led  to  open  the  great  difference  between  a 
carnal  warfare  and  a  spiritual  one,  leaving  the 
widows  and  the  fatherless  to  mourn ;  and  while 
engaged  upon  the  subject,  I  observed  the  cap- 
tain's countenance  to  flush  exceedingly,  and 
when  I  proceeded  to  point  out  the  awful  con- 
sequences of  war,  it  seemed  to  be  too  much 
for  him  to  bear.  He  rose  and  left  the  house, 
though  all  his  men  continued  to  the  close, 
which  was  a  very  solemn  and  impressive  one. 


82  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

I  think  the  captain  felt  no  resentment  towards 
me,  but  that  his  heart  was  broken  into  tender- 
ness, under  the  awfully  convicting  power  of 
truth.  After  an  absence  of  about  seven  months, 
I  was  again  restored  to  my  dear  family,  and 
found  them  all  in  comfortable  health — a  re- 
newed cause  for  gratitude  and  thankfulness  to 
him  who  is  the  Author  of  all  our  sure  mercies. 
Returned  my  minute  to  the  Monthly  Meeting, 
with  testimonials  from  the  various  places  I  had 
visited  of  unity  and  concurrence  therein. 

"  On  the  4th  of  2d  month,  1815,  I  obtained 
a  minute  from  my  friends  at  home  to  visit  parts 
of  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Virginia,  and 
elsewhere,  if  the  way  should  open.  I  set  out 
under  fear  and  trembling,  but  was  favoured  to 
perform  the  visit  to  the  relief  and  comfort  of 
my  own  mind ;  and  I  returned  said  minute  to 
my  Monthly  Meeting,  accompanied  with  certi- 
ficates from  the  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders  in  Philadelphia,  dated  from  the  15th  to 
the  21st  of  4th  month,  1815 ;  an  endorsement 
from  Abington  Quarter ;  one  from  Concord 
Quarter ;  one  from  Cain ;  one  from  Bucks 
Quarter  ;  one  from  Iladdonfield,  New  Jersey ; 
and  one  from  Monallan  Monthly  Meeting,  set- 


VISIT   TO    ENGLAND.  OO 

ting  forth  that  my  labours  among  them  had 
been  satisfactory  and  edifying." 

From  this  period  to  the  year  1818,  this  dedi- 
cated servant  continued  to  be  actively  employed 
in  his  Master's  vineyard,  repeatedly  visiting  the 
different  meetings  in  his  own  country,  particu- 
larly those  belonging  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
which  he  was  a  member,  being  often  led  into 
the  exercising  work  of  family  visiting ;  and  now 
he  felt  his  mind  drawn  by  the  irresistible  influ- 
ences of  heavenly  love  to  "  go  and  see  how  his 
brethren  fared"  on  the  other  side  of  the  At- 
lantic. 

In  reference  to  this  weighty  undertaking,  he 
says:— "On  the  9th  day  of  9th  month,  1818, 
I  spread  before  the  Friends  of  my  Monthly 
Meeting  a  concern  which  had  weightily  im- 
pressed my  mind  for  several  years,  bringing  it 
many  times  into  deep  and  serious  conflict,  to 
perform  in  Gospel  love  a  visit  to  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  with  which 
my  friends  expressed  entire  unity.  But  about 
the  time  I  expected  to  set  out,  my  beloved  wife 
was  seized  with  a  paralytic  affection,  and  other 
trials  and  difficulties  arose,  causing  me  to  pass 
through  suffering  which  I  cannot  describe,  and 
delaying  my  journey  till  the  following  spring. 


34         MEMOIR  OF  NATHAN  HUNT. 

However,  I  left  my  home  in  the  4th  month 
of  1820,  proceeding  on  towards  Philadelphia, 
attending  several  meetings  on  my  way,  and 
getting  to  New  York  in  time  to  attend  the 
Yearly  Meeting  there,  embarked  soon  after  the 
conclusion  of  it.         *         *         *         * 

"In  looking  over  my  past  life,  I  feel  dis- 
posed to  commemorate  the  goodness  of  my 
Heavenly  Father,  in  having  wonderfully  pre- 
served me  in  times  of  imminent  danger.  Once, 
when  about  to  cross  the  river  Jumaree,  in  South 
Carolina,  in  a  flat,  the  water  being  very  high, 
the  ferryman  put  in  his  pole,  and  it  became 
entangled  in  the  rocks,  and  very  soon  was 
jerked  out  of  his  hands ;  as  he  had  neither  pole 
nor  oar  to  guide  the  flat  with,  we  were  driven 
down  the  stream  with  great  rapidity,  and  it 
appeared  as  though  we  must  be  lost.  The  river 
making  here  a  turn,  however,  brought  us  near 
the  bank,  and  we  were  enabled  to  seize  hold 
upon  some  limbs  of  trees,  by  which  we  very 
quickly  stopped  the  boat.  Had  we  proceeded 
a  little  further,  a  large  tree,  growing  horizon- 
tally, would,  in  all  human  probability,  have 
swept  our  horses  overboard,  at  least,  and  not 
at  all  unlikely  some  of  us.  It  was  difficult  to 
climb  the  bank,  it  was  so  very  steep,  and  if  we 


PROVIDENTIAL    ESCAPE.  35 

had  been  carried  on  a  little  further,  I  think  it 
would  have  been  impossible.  There  was  an- 
other circumstance  took  place,  when  in  the 
eastern  parts  of  North  Carolina,  which  I  con- 
sider worthy  of  remark.  In  crossing  a  high 
bridge,  over  a  watercourse,  the  water  say  from 
ten  to  twelve  feet  deep,  my  horses  started  and 
rushed  forward,  and  breaking  down  the  pillars 
of  the  banister,  the  tire  of  the  front  wheel  was 
for  a  moment  half-way  oif  the  bridge ;  had  it 
but  gone  half  an  inch  further  off,  we  must  in- 
evitably have  been  drowned,  but  at  this  awful 
moment  he  was  checked  by  an  omnipotent  and 
overruling  Power,  and  several  friends,  who 
passed  before  us,  seeing  the  fearful  situation 
we  were  in,  came  instantly  to  our  assistance, 
and  turning  round  the  horse  on  to  the  middle 
of  the  bridge,  a  strong  man  present  tried  to 
hold  him  there,  but  he  again  rushed  furiously 
forward,  and  were  it  not  for  several  trees  that 
grew  out  of  the  bank,  and  held  the  carriage, 
which  was  thrown  against  them,  we  must  have 
been  precipitated  off  into  the  water.  But  no 
material  damage  was  sustained,  and  I  have  ever 
looked  upon  it  as  a  marvellous  preservation  of 
my  Heavenly  Father.  *  *  *  * 
"  How  wonderful  it  is,  that  any  human  being 


3G  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

should  entertain  a  doubt  of  the  communion  of 
the  great  Creator  with  his  creature,  man,  some 
saying  that  he  has  revealed  his  will  to  us  in 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  therefore  there  is  no  ne- 
cessity for  further  intercourse.  But  surely  we 
must  doubt  the  evidence  of  our  senses  if  we 
disbelieve  his  immediate  revelations  to  the  soul. 
One  or  two  strong  confirmations  of  it  just  occur 
to  me.  A  person,  not  a  member  of  our  Society, 
married  a  Friend,  and  though  she  afterwards 
inclined  to  attend  the  meeting  she  had  been 
accustomed  to,  he  very  much  opposed  her  in  it, 
saying  she  might  unite  herself  to  any  sect  ex- 
cept the  Quakers,  and  he  would  join  her.  This 
tried  her  very  much,  and  in  this  time  of  con- 
flict and  close  proving,  I  had  a  meeting  at  a 
place  called  Freehold,  a  mile  or  two  from  where 
this  person  lived.  His  wife  had  a  desire  to  go 
to  it,  and  she  prevailed  upon  him  to  accompany 
her.  I  had  another  meeting  in  the  evening  at 
Bordentown,  to  which  they  also  came,  and  while 
we  were  at  breakfast,  on  the  following  day,  he 
and  his  wife  stepped  in.  Immediately  my  feel- 
ings became  arrested,  and  I  could  eat  but  very 
little  more.  I  drew  my  chair  a  small  space 
from  the  table,  and  soon  a  very  solemn  pause 
ensued,  when,  turning  towards  them,  my  mind 


INCIDENTS.  o7 

was  opened  in  a  striking  manner  to  address 
them  both.  It  seemed  to  have  a  powerful  effect 
upon  the  man,  especially,  and  though  he  was  a 
stranger  to  me,  I  afterwards  w^as  told  that  he 
entirely  denied  that  the  Almighty  held  com- 
munion with  his  creatures,  but  after  this  he 
gave  it  up  completely,  and  said  that  if  the  very 
secrets  of  his  heart  had  not  been  told  him, 
which  he  had  never  in  his  life  revealed  to  any 
one,  he  might  have  doubted  still ;  but  here  was 
demonstration  irresistible,  and  he  surrendered 
freely,  and  became  a  worthy  member  and  re- 
spected elder  in  that  Society  he  had  despised, 
his  wife  a  most  acceptable  and  valued  minister. 
''Another  striking  incident  occurred  while  on 
the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland.  I  had  a  meet- 
ing in  a  town  in  which  no  Friends  resided,  and 
held  it  in  a  house  belono^ins^  to  the  Methodists. 
There  was  a  large  assembly  gathered  there,  and 
after  sitting  for  some  time  in  silence,  I  thought 
it  ri^ht  to  rise  and  address  them,  which  havino; 
done  for  a  short  space  of  time,  I  seemed  checked 
suddenly,  and  led  to  speak  to  a  particular  state, 
and  when  that  closed,  the  subject  that  I  rose 
with  opened  clearly,  and  I  went  on  till  I  re- 
lieved my  mind.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  meet- 
ing I  returned  to  our  inn,  and  my  companion, 


38  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

passing  from  the  meeting-house  another  way,  I 
tarried  for  some  time  before  he  came.  When 
he  arrived,  I  asked  him  what  detained  him.  He 
said,  that  as  the  people  left  the  house  there  was 
an  aged  man  went  to  his  son-in-law,  and  very 
angrily  addressed  him  thus  :  '  You  have  inform- 
ed the  Friend  what  accusations  I  am  lying 
under.'  He  answered  that  he  never  saw  me  in 
his  life  before,  and  had  communicated  nothing 
to  me.  This  altercation  lasted  for  some  time, 
the  old  man  still  insisting,  in  a  boisterous  tone, 
'  You  did,  I  know  you  did,  inform  him  of  it.' 

•'  These  circumstances  have  been  humbling 
to  me,  under  the  full  persuasion  of  the  Truth 
(however  much  the  worldly-wise  may  sneer), 
that  nothing  short  of  a  Divine  unfolding  on 
the  soul  could  thus  '  have  shown  to  man  what 
his  thought  was,'  when  I,  the  poor  unworthy 
instrument,  was  wholly  unacquainted  with  the 
fact.  May  all  glory,  and  honour,  and  praise 
be  ascribed  unto  Him  to  whom  alone  they  are 
due,  both  now  and  for  evermore ! 

"And  at  this  moment  as  remarkable  a  circum- 
stance as  any  of  the  three  I  have  related,  has 
been  afresh  revived  in  my  remembrance.  In 
1802,  while  in  attendance  on  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  Virginia,  I   had  a   public  meeting  at 


I^IEETING    AT    BLACKWATER.  89 

Blackwater,  where  I  was  led  to  speak  in  an 
impressive  manner  on  the  uncertainty  of  time, 
the  insufficiency  of  worldly  wealth,  and  the 
transitory  nature  of  all  earthly  things,  predict- 
ing solemnly,  that  death  was  near,  and  quoting 
this  text,  from  Jeremiah  17th  chapter  and  11th 
verse  :  "  As  the  partridge  sitteth  on  eggs,  and 
hatcheth  them  not ;  so  he  that  getteth  riches, 
and  not  by  right,  shall  leave  them  in  the  midst 
of  his  days,  and  in  the  end  be  a  fool."  It  was 
a  very  solemn  opportunity,  and  there  were 
many  present  broken  into  tears. 

A  few  weeks  after  this,  I  heard  that  three 
young  men  belonging  to  the  wealthiest  family 
in  that  neighbourhood,  had  been  removed  by 
death  since  I  was  there.  These  were  all  pre- 
sent at  the  meeting,  I  well  knew,  as  I  had 
lodged  during  my  visit  to  the  Yearly  Meeting 
at  their  father's  house. 

[These  memoranda  extend  no  farther,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  remarks  that  were  made 
on  his  return  from  England ;  but  the  subjoined 
letters,  written  at  different  periods,  from  the 
year  1800  to  1841,  will  in  some  measure  supply 
the  deficiency.] 


40  .MF.:\TOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 


Bedford,  4tb  mo.  0,  1800. 
Most  near  and  dearly  beloved  Wife  : 

With  feelings  of  affection  do  I  salute  thee ; 
thou  hast  been  brought  near  to  my  best  life, 
and  in  that  true  sympathy  which  those  "vvho  are 
thus  united  feel  for  each  other.  Stand  fast, 
dear  heart,  in  that  which  has  enabled  thee  to 
give  up  all  that  was  most  precious  to  thee.  If 
I  could  have  laid  down  my  life  when  I  left 
you,  it  would  have  been  a  sweet  thing  to  me  in 
comparison  to  drinking  of  the  wormwood  and 
the  gail  that  I  was  then,  and  still  am,  sensible 
must  be  my  portion. 

My  dear  children,  I  beseech  you,  remember 
the  frequent  entreaties  of  your  father,  and  be 
steady  to  your  business,  to  your  home,  and  to 
your  learning ;  dwell  together  in  love,  being 
exceeding  kind  and  tender  to  your  mother,  and 
do  nothing  without  her  counsel. 

I  cannot  doubt  the  propriety  of  the  move- 
ment, though  very  trying  to  poor  dust  and 
ashes. 

We  have  been  favoured  with  assurance  of 
Divine  regard.  Dear  Barnabas  is,  I  believe, 
rightly  bound  in  the  yoke ;  when  I  go  down 
into  the  deeps,  I  feel  him  to  go  down  with  me. 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  41 

In  much  near  aiFection  to  thee  and  the  dear 
children,  I  remain 

Thine  in  love, 

Nathan  Hunt. 


Newport  (R.  L),  Gth  mo.  15,  1800. 
Dearly  beloved  Wife  : 

I  salute  thee  in  the  cordial  Sowings  of  that 
love  that  knows  no  bounds ;  incessant  are  my 
mental  breathings  to  the  Great  Supreme  that 
he  may  guard  thee  round  by  day  and  night ; 
keep  thee  in  perfect  peace,  and  that  no  evil 
danger  may  come  near  thee. 

We  have  had  many  meetings  in  this  state ; 
some  of  them  large,  and  seasons  of  great  favour. 
I  have  no  room  to  doubt  I  am  right  in  being 
here.  I  expect  to  go  pretty  directly  on  to  at- 
tend the  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Nantucket,  and 
thence  eastward  as  the  way  may  open.  I  re- 
ceived thy  very  affecting  letter,  dated  the  18th 
of  last  month,  in  twenty-four  days  from  under 
thy  precious  hand ;  though  the  melancholy 
news  of  the  decease  of  dear  Charity*  is  truly 
moving,  yet  the  resigned  state  of  thy  mind  is 
more  precious  to  me  than  the  increase  of  corn, 

*  Charity  Cook. 


42  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

wine,  or  oil.  I  believe  as  thou  art  thus  stayed 
upon  the  Lord,  he  will  stay  thee  with  flagons, 
and  comfort  thee  with  the  apples  of  his  love. 
I  feel  no  greater  solicitude  for  my  own  soul  than 
for  thine ;  then  mayest  thou  be  established  on 
the  sure  foundation,  far  above  all  those  fluc- 
tuating things  that  in  the  least  degree  occasion 
thee  uneasiness. 

I  have  had  two  public  meetings  in  this  place  ; 
it  was  supposed  there  were  three  thousand  per- 
sons present.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord ! 
His  helping-hand  was  near.  I  had  a  memora- 
ble family-sitting  here  with  many  Friends ;  a 
living  minister,  before  we  separated,  said  he 
had  never  sat  under  such  a  Gospel  shower. 
With  tears  of  deep  humility  I  mention  this  for 
thy  encouragement.  It  is  best  to  make  but 
few  friends  in  showing  my  letters ;  but  when 
thou  feelest  an  entire  freedom  with  those  who 
would  be  more  sympathizing  than  speculative, 
indulge  them.  Love  to  the  dear  children. 
From  thy  sincere  and  afiectionate 

N.  Hunt. 


Nantucket,  Gth  mo.  28th,  1800. 
Affectionately  beloved  Wife : 

Nothing  could  separate  me  from  thee  but 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  43 

the  precious  testimony  of  Truth  given  unto  me 
to  bear  (as  pledges  of  the  Heavenly  Father's 
love  unto  the  people),  which  is  nearer  unto  me 
than  my  own  life.  We  came  here  yesterday — 
a  day  of  the  most  tranquil  repose  that  I  have 
had  since  I  left  home.  I  was  not  sea-sick  in 
the  least.  My  peace  of  mind  did  not  continue 
long ;  almost  as  soon  as  I  landed  on  this  island, 
my  spirit  was  bowed  down  under  renewed  and 
weighty  exercise,  till  my  heart  was  melted 
within  me,  and  I  retired  to  conceal  my  tears. 
I  was  drawn  to  feel  after  the  aged,  the  widoAvs, 
and  the  fatherless ;  the  sick  and  the  afflicted, 
with  all  of  whom  this  place  abounds.  Spent 
yesterday  in  visiting  them  in  their  solitary 
dwellings,  and  believed  it  was  an  acceptable 
sacrifice  unto  the  great  Parent  of  mankind.  1 
am  using  all  diligence  to  make  my  way  through 
my  allotted  portion  of  labour,  which  seems  not 
likely  to  be  very  small.  I  am  sometimes  fa- 
voured with  a  comfortable  hope,  that  if  I  go  on 
labouring  faithfully  in  these  Eastern  states,  my 
Master  will  then  release  me  to  return  to  you 
without  much  service  in  the  Northern  states, 
though  I  desire  not  to  be  mine  own  carver, 
nor  to  please  myself;  remembering  that  the 
time  is  hastening  when  it  will  be  of  little  con- 


44  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

sequence  to  any  of  us  whether  we  dwelt  to- 
gether or  apart,  so  that  our  close  may  be  a 
peaceful  one — our  setting  sun  go  down  without 
a  cloud.  Dear  children,  every  faculty  of  my 
soul  is  stirred  up  for  you  that  you  may  be 
good.  Write  to  me  every  week. 
Affectionately, 

Nathan  Hunt. 


Hudson,  10th  mo.  13,  1800. 
Dearly  beloved  Wife : 

Although  I  cannot  be  gratified  in  hearing 
from  thee  as  often  as  would  be  desirable,  yet  I 
take  a  secret  satisfaction  in  granting  unto  thee 
every  indulgence  in  my  power.  I  arrived  in 
this  city  last  evening,  and  to-night  expect  to 
have  an  interview  with  thousands  of  the  people. 
John  Hull,  who  has  been  my  companion  for 
four  months  past,  has  taken  leave  of  me,  so 
that  I  am  now  surrounded  by  strangers  only. 
For  some  time  past,  I  have  almost  been  worn 
out  with  labour  and  hard  travelling  ;  but  am 
now  recruited,  although  feeling  great  solicitude 
on  thy  account,  fearing  thou  art  exposed  to 
many  trials.  Stand  fast,  my  love  and  life,  my 
joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing ;   although  beset- 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    AVIFE.  45 

ment  may  surround  thee,  yet  bear  with  patience 
all  the  turnings  of  the  holy  Hand,  that  He  may 
purely  purge  away  the  dross.  This  I  desire  for 
myself  and  all  that  is  mine,  that  when  we  meet 
no  intervening  cloud  may  dim  our  joy.  With 
much  near  affection  to  wife  and  children,  I 
remain. 

Yours  in  tho  Lord, 

N.  Hunt. 


Philadelphia,  2J  mo.  3,  1801. 
Near  and  dearly  beloved  : 

In  that  sweet  spring  of  love  that  is  ancient 
and  yet  new,  I  salute  thee  this  morning.  How 
often  do  I  visit  thee  both  in  thy  lying  down 
and  in  thy  rising  up,  as  well  as  when  thou  goest 
to  Mount  Gilboa,  where  there  is  neither  dew 
nor  rain,  nor  field  of  offering,  and  where  thou 
findest  the  river  to  break  forth  in  high  places, 
and  springs  in  the  valleys,  I  walk  beside  thee. 
Absence  has  only  the  tendency  to  strengthen 
the  bands  of  love,  and  it  is  only  by  the  right 
hand  of  His  righteousness  that  we  are  sustamed 
through  this  state  of  trial  and  vicissitude. 

I  am  right  well  in  health,  considering  the 
abundant  labour  that  falls  to  my  lot,  and  I  be- 


46  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

lieve  I  may  acknowledge,  with  propriety,  the 
Lord  is  with  me.  He  hath  brought  me  through 
many  deep  provings,  and  I  think  hath  given 
me  a  comfortable  assurance  that  He  will  take 
care  of  thee  and  the  little  ones,  as  you  look 
unto  him  with  singleness  of  eye.  There  is  no 
possibility  of  describing  the  desire  I  feel  to  be 
with  you ;  sometimes  it  seems  as  if  I  could  not 
bear  it  longer ;  but  dare  not  attempt  to  stir  till 
the  great  Master  bids  me.  If  I  did  I  should 
only  be  a  burden  to  you ;  therefore  let  us  abide 
in  the  patience  till  the  right  time  comes. 
Friends  are  exceeding  kind  to  me.  My  home 
is  with  my  beloved  P.  and  A.  Barker,  who  spare 
no  pains  to  make  me  comfortable. 

I  expect  to  leave  this  place  on  6th  day,  go 
down  through  Delaware  and  the  Eastern  and 
AYestern  Shores  of  Maryland,  so  on  to  Balti- 
more. Think  it  not  likely,  as  the  star  now 
moves,  that  I  shall  see  you  till  after  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  in  Virginia,  in  5th  month  next. 
I  am  thy  affectionate  husband, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

P.  S. — Oh,  that  my  dear  children  may  walk 
in  the  ways  of  the  Lord,  in  meekness  and  hu- 
mility. This  would  be  my  joy  and  crown  of 
rejoicing,  if  I  should  live  until  declining  life ; 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  47 

more  to  me,  truly,  than  thousands  of  rams  or 
tens  of  thousands  of  rivers  of  oil,  for  I  behold 
the  folly  and  uncertainty  of  mundane  things — 
how  soon  they  will  be  done  !  In  tender  affec- 
tion beyond  weight  or  measure, 
I  am  your  parent, 

Nathan  Hunt. 


Philadelphia,  4tli  mo.  15,  1804. 
Nearly  and  dearly  beloved  Wife  : 

In  the  cordial  flowings  of  that  love  that  often 
increased  our  joy  into  a  river  of  pleasure,  mak- 
ing hard  things  easy,  and  bitter  cups  sweet,  I 
salute  thee  and  all  our  beloved  children  with 
heartfelt  solicitude  that  you  may  be  the  re- 
deemed of  the  Lord — plants  of  his  own  right 
hand  planting — as  much  retired  from  the  world 
as  possible — sitting  in  the  tent-door  of  watch- 
fulness, that  you  may  be  preserved  from  every- 
thing which  might  in  any  way  hurt  that  pure 
seed  which  I  desire  above  all  other  things  to 
cherish  in  you.  May  you  in  every  movement 
honour  that  calling  for  the  sake  of  which  I 
have  left  all,  and  am  subjected  to  deep  exer- 
cises, regarding  not  my  life,  so  that  I  may  win 
precious  souls  to  Christ. 

We  reached  this  place  on  6th  day  evening, 


48  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

after  a  long  and  very  toilsome  journey  ;  but  the 
kind  reception  we  met  with  among  Friends, 
quite  overbalanced  momentary  trials.  My  be- 
loved P.  and  A.  Barker  manifest  their  usual 
care  and  kindness  towards  me.  I  am  quite  well 
in  health,  and  measurably,  I  trust,  resigned  to 
my  allotment.  Attended  select  meeting  yes- 
terday. It  was  a  season  of  instruction,  and  I 
felt  much  more  disposed  to  hear  than  to  be 
heard.  Attended  Pine  Street  Meeting  on  1st 
day  morning,  and  was  opened  from  the  words  of 
Job  : — "  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of  few 
days  and  full  of  trouble ;  he  cometh  forth  like 
a  flower  and  is  cut  down ;  he  fleeth  away  like  a 
shadow,  and  tarrieth  not."  My  beloved  wife 
and  children,  I  feel  glowing  affections  of  the 
tenderest  kind  to  kindle  in  my  heart  for  you — 
but  what  can  I  further  say  to  invite,  to  entreat, 
to  stimulate  your  minds  towards  your  greatest, 
truest,  and  eternal  interests  ?  You  must  do  for 
yourselves,  you  must  know  for  yourselves  ;  for 
if  I  knew  all  the  mysteries  of  godliness,  and 
daily  imparted  them,  it  would  avail  you  no- 
thing unless  you  were  acquainted  with  them 
for  yourselves. 

Yours,  in  the  Lord, 

Nathan  Hunt. 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  49 


New  York,  27th  of  5tli  mo.,  1804. 
Right  near  and  dearly  beloved  Wife  : 

With  renewed  impression  of  the  warmest 
aflfection  I  am  capable  of  experiencing  I  salute 
thee  this  morning,  sincerely  desiring  thy  pre- 
servation as  on  every  hand,  that  all  the  avenues 
to  thy  precious  soul  may  be  guarded  by  the 
angel  of  peace,  that  no  temptation  may  dis- 
quiet thee,  well  knowing  the  insidious  wiles  of 
the  unwearied  adversary,  that  he  is  always 
looking  round  to  see  if  he  can  get  an  advan- 
tage over  us  ;  and  if  he  finds  the  poor  mind  off 
its  guard,  he  then  steps  in  and  makes  work  for 
repentance.  Oh  !  this  admits  of  no  time  for 
lightness,  but  calls  on  us  to  watch  and  pray, 
and  that  continually ;  and  here  there  is  a  pre- 
cious cheerfulness  of  soul  that  will  support 
through  every  trial  and  vicissitude.  Oh  !  saith 
my  soul,  that  all  parts  of  my  family  may  in- 
cline to  seriousness.  My  beloved  children, 
often  reflect  upon  the  dying  charge  of  a  great 
prince  to  his  son,  and  consider  it  as  though  it 
were  addressed  to  you :  ''  Solomon,  my  son, 
know  thou  the  God  of  thy  fathers,  and  serve 
him  with  a  perfect  heart  and  willing  mind.  If 
thou  seek  him  he  will  be  found  of  thee,  but  if 

4 


50  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT- 

thou  forsake  him,  he  -will  cast  thee  off  for  ever." 
You  have  had  opportunities  above  many ;  im- 
prove them,  my  beloved  children,  I  beseech 
you,  that  if  your  dear  father  should  be  favoured 
to  see  you  again  in  this  probationary  state  of 
being,  it  may  be  with  joy  of  heart,  like  unto 
the  joy  of  harvest,  when  a  plentiful  crop  is 
gathered  into  the  garner.  Beloved  Asenath ! 
let  thy  mind  be  stayed  upon  the  Lord  in  this 
the  day  of  thy  sickness  and  of  trial.  The  soul 
of  thy  father  feels  deeply  for  thee,  but  I  be- 
lieve the  opening  arms  of  Goodness  circle  round 
thee. 

With   love   to    all,   your   sympathizing   and 

affectionate, 

N.  Hunt. 

Nantucket,  7th  mo.  1,  1804. 
Affectionately  beloved  Partner : 

A  renewal  of  the  deepest  sympathy  and  love 
that  I  am  capable  of  feeling  for  thee,  attracts 
my  mind  towards  thee  this  day ;  deep  and  trying 
are  my  exercises  and  great  my  labours,  though 
I  am  humbly  resigned  to  my  allotment  and 
bow  in  reverent  thankfulness  to  the  great 
Author  of  our  being  that  He  is  pleased  to  help 
in  time  of  need. 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  61 

We  have  been  near  a  week  upon  tliis  island, 
and  have  had  several  solid  meetings  and  visited 
the  sick  and  the  afflicted ;  there  seems  to  he 
some  further  service  for  us  jet,  but  I  think  it 
likely  three  or  four  days  more  will  accomplish 
it,  and  then  I  hope  we  shall  be  turned  a  little 
towards  you.  But  I  am  not  my  own,  and 
therefore  must  be  willing  to  be  bound  and  car- 
ried whither  I  would  not.  I  have  just  returned 
from  a  large  public  meeting,  where  I  was  ex- 
tensively engaged,  and  feel  myself  exhausted  ; 
but  have  another  one  appointed  to  begin  at 
three  o'clock,  and  how  it  will  fare  with  me  the 
Great  Being  only  knows. 

7th  of  7th  mo.,  New  Bedford. — The  meeting 
on  1st  day,  mentioned  above,  continued  long — 
the  Gospel  spring  opened  abundantly,  and  on 
4th  day  I  attended  Monthly  Meeting  on  the 
island ;  it  was  a  very  close  and  searching  time. 
On  5th  day  had  a  public  meeting  there,  which 
was  the  crown  of  all  in  Nantucket ;  a  greater 
flow  of  peace  I  never  felt  in  which  I  craved  my 
precious  wife  might  partake.  We  left  the  island 
yesterday  at  nine  o'clock,  arrived  here  about 
six ;  and  were  much  disappointed  in  not  find- 
ing  letters,  but  endeavoured  to  be  patient  under 
it.    Thou  knovv'est,  my  dear,  receiving  these  re- 


52  3IEM01R    OP    NATHAN    HUNT. 

membrances  is  like  cold  flowing  water  to  a 
thirsty  soul.  I  feel  a  deep  solicitude  for  our 
preservation  from  contaminating  things — from 
everything  that  would  abate  the  force  of  our 
desires  after  that  heavenly  union  without  which 
we  live  in  vain.  Let  us  move  on,  hand  joined 
in  hand,  through  all  the  chequered  scenes  of 
this  fast  fading  world,  in  which  we  see  in  part 
and  know  in  part — a  steady  perseverance  in 
well-doing  will  bring  us  finally  into  that  clear- 
ness where  we  shall  "know  even  as  we  are 
known."  This  is  a  world  of  darkness  and  of 
pain,  but  w^e  are  seeking  for  a  city  which 
needeth  not  the  sun  to  lighten  it ;  for  the  Lord 
God  and  the  Lamb  are  the  everlasting  light 
thereof,  and  none  of  the  inhabitants  can  any 
more  say  they  are  sick. 

I  commend  thee  and  our  dear  children  with 
mine  own  soul  unto  the  grace  of  God,  which  is 
able  to  present  us  faultless  before  the  Throne 
of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy. 

In  the  tenderest  affection,  thine, 

N.  Hunt. 

7th  m>o.  8th. — To  my  inexpressible  consola- 
tion, by  last  evening's  mail,  I  received  thine 
and  Asenath's  very  welcome  letter,  which  was 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  58 

indeed  a  balsam  to  my  soul ;  setting  forth  such 
humility  and  such  submission  to  divine  requir- 
ings.  My  dear  Asenath,  thou  art  very  near  to 
thy  father's  best  life  in  thy  tried  situation  ;  but 
if  it  proves  as  a  fountain  of  life  to  preserve 
from  the  snares  of  death,  rejoice  evermore,  and 
in  all  things  give  thanks.  N.  H. 


New  Bedfokd,  7tli  of  12tb  mo.,  1804. 
Near  and  dearly  beloved  Wife  and  Children  : 

Unto  Tvhom  are  the  Teachings  forth  of  my 
love  and  life  in  the  unchangeable  truth.  The 
engagement  of  my  heart  for  you  is,  that  none 
of  you  may  be  cast  away  in  that  awful  hour 
which  is  fast  approaching,  when  the  living  im- 
mortal part  must  leave  the  dying  perishable 
flesh  and  stand  before  the  Majesty  of  heaven 
and  earth,  and  cognisance  be  taken  of  every 
moment  of  our  lives,  and  every  word  that  w^e 
have  spoken ;  certainly  this  ought  to  bring  us 
all  within  the  girdle  of  pure  truth,  and  keep  us 
sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus ;  that  we  may  hear 
this  gracious  language  flowing  from  his  lips, 
"0  righteous  Father!  let  the  rebel  live."  I 
intreat  you  to  strive  all  you  can  to  promote  one 
another's  happiness,   and  thereby  to   increase 


04         MEMOIR  OF  NATHAN  HUNT. 

your  own  ;  sooth  one  another  in  the  toils  of 
life.  I  mark  with  most  peculiar  satisfaction 
the  remarks  of  my  beloved  wife  and  daughter. 
The  former,  that  the  children  are  very  respect- 
ful to  her ;  the  latter,  that  the  attention  of  a 
tender  mother  and  the  care  of  affectionate 
brothers  and  sisters  had  been  conducive  to  her 
comfort  in  a  tedious  illness :  and  the  wish  ex- 
pressed that  she  might  number  all  her  bless- 
ings, was  affecting  to  my  heart.  Truly  Ave 
ought  to  number  them,  for  they  are  great. 

I  have  just  received  Joseph's  affecting  letter, 
which  gives  me  pleasure,  mixed  with  pain — 
pain  at  the  disposition  of  m.ankind.  Oh !  my 
dear  family,  keep  still  the  mind  attentively 
turned  unto  Him  who  knoweth  every  heart,  and 
never  will  leave  those  who  cast  their  care  upon 
Him.  If  we  can  have  Him  for  our  friend,  truly 
we  need  not  care  who  is  against  us.  We  must 
not  think  it  strange  wo  have  to  bear  reproach 
for  His  name's  sake,  "  for  they  that  would 
live  godly,"  &c.  Keep  yourselves  to  your- 
selves, improving  in  good  things ;  attend  reli- 
gious meetings  steadily,  endeavouring,  when 
there,  to  worship  in  sincerity  of  heart. 

I  expect  to  leave  this  place  in  a  few  days, 
and  go  on  to  Connecticut.     I  am  pretty  much 


LETTlIllS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  55 

closed  np  from  giving  a  general  notice  when 
meetings  are  appointed,  but  when  they  are 
select,  or  appointed  only  among  others,  the 
Gospel  spring  floAvs  freely. 

Affectionately,  dear  wife  and  children,  yours, 

N.  Hunt. 

Rahway,  8th  mo.  15,  1804. 
My  dearest  half : 

In  the  flowing  forth  of  that  love  which  issues 
from  the  fount  of  purity,  thou  art  brought  near 
to  my  best  life,  even  in  that  hidden  union 
which  unites  in  strongest  bonds  body,  soul,  and 
spirit.  Oh,  this  celestial  stream  !  It  flows  from 
the  Sanctuary,  and  heals  all  where  it  comes. 
It  brings  forth  living  creatures  in  abundance, 
even  fruitfulness  in  the  field  of  offering,  and 
joy  fulness  in  the  house  of  prayer.  In  times 
of  dreariness  and  solitude  let  us  not  cast  away 
the  shield,  neither  let  go  our  hold  on  Heaven, 
and  sink  beneath  the  mighty  billows  that  would 
overwhelm  us. 

Oh !  here  we  should  stand  still,  solemnly 
gathered  into  quiet  waiting,  and  let  a  hand 
mightier  than  ours  work.  Soon  would  it  cause 
these  storms  to  pass  away,  and  placing  us  on 
the  banks  of  deliverance,  put  a  new  song  into 


56  ME.MolR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

the  mouth,  even  salvation  and  glory,  dominion 
and  praise,  unto  Ilim  to  -whom  they  are  due. 

My  labours,  of  late,  on  Long  Island  and  in 
Now  York  have  been  deep  and  searching  as 
any  1  have  ever  had  before,  and  the  River  of 
Peace  as  deep  as  any  that  I  ever  swam  in. 
The  Lord  will  uphold  with  his  free  Spirit,  and 
give  the  joys  of  liis  salvation  to  all  that  trust 
in  Ilim.  My  Master  is  teaching  me  neiu  les- 
sons. 

In  the  city  of  New  York  we  met  wdth  an 
Indian  chief,  and  a  number  of  other  Indians 
from  the  Osage  Nation,  two  thousand  miles 
from  here.  I  was  pressed  in  spirit  to  have  a 
meeting  with  them,  which  we  had  in  the  City 
Hall.  I  spoke  to  them  by  two  interpreters, 
first  in  the  French  and  then  in  the  Indian  lan- 
'guage,  and  considering  the  great  flow  of  expres- 
sion I  generally  have  in  my  communications, 
was  favoured  with  astonishing  composure,  when 
I  had  to  stand  three  or  four  minutes  without 
uttering  a  word  whilst  they  were  interpreting. 
The  Indians  received  it  with  great  solidity  and 
satisfaction. 

I  watch  the  mails,  and  am  much  pleased 
when  I  receive  a  letter  from  you.  Oh  !  that 
my  descendants  may  all  live  in  the  pure  truth, 


LETTERS  TO  HIS    WIFE.  57 

and  be  kept  in  the  sacred  enclosure  of  divine 
preservation. 

Take  care  of  yourselves ;  dwell  in  the  fear 
of  Him  who  is  the  searcher  of  hearts,  and  on 
whom  no  deception  can  impose.  He  sees  us 
just  as  we  are,  and  He  will  do  right,  and  give 
unto  all  according  to  their  deeds. 

May  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  be  with  you 
all.     I  feel  that  my  soul  is  bound  to  you  in  the 
fellowship  of  that  life  which  is  hid  with  Christ 
in  God.     And  in  the  Sowings  of  love, 
I  am  yours,  in  the  Lord, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

4th  mo.  27,  1811. 
My  endeared  Wife  : 

The  partner  of  my  joys  and  sorrows,  my 
heart  salutes  thee,  and  with  the  tenderest  affec- 
tion and  the  deepest  sympathy  that  I  am  capa- 
ble of  feeling,  under  the  trying  conflict  that 
nature  has  to  endure  in  this  long  separation. 

But  is  there  not  a  gentle  voice  that  whispers 
"Peace;  be  still!"  Oh!  then  let  patience 
have  her  perfect  work ;  fori  believe  it  is  not 
too  much  for  me  to  say,  with  flowing  tears,  me- 
thinks  I  see  a  habitation  prepared  for  our  im- 


58  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    UUNT. 

mortal  souls,  if  we  but  hold  out  unto  tlie  en<l 
in  well-doing. 

My  dear  Asenath,  my  mind  has  been  ten- 
derly impressed  with  concern  for  thee  that 
thou  ma^^est  not  hold  back  too  long,  but  give 
up  thy  whole  heart  unto  the  Lord,  and  do  what- 
ever he  shall  bid  thee  to  do ;  for  he  is  a  sure 
rewarder  of  all  those  who  diligently  serve  him. 
And  thou,  dear  Abigail,  be  attentive  to  the  im- 
pressions of  good  on  thy  mind ;  for  thou  hast 
often  been  visited  of  the  Lord,  and  He  has 
called  thee  to  come  away  from  folly's  shrine 
that  thou  mayest  be  thy  father's  joy  and  thy 
mother's  consolation  in  the  time  of  trouble. 

My  beloved  sons,  Samuel  and  Nathan,  re- 
member, wise  sons  make  glad  fathers ;  but 
foolish  sons  are  heaviness  to  their  mothers. 

We  got  here  yesterday,  expect  to  have  some 
meetings  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  on  second- 
day  set  out  for  Canada.  I  don't  expect  to  hear 
from  you  for  many  weeks ;  and  when  I  rose 
this  morning  from  my  bed,  I  could  not  but  re- 
flect how  different  was  my  situation  now  from 
wliat  it  was  about  two  weeks  ago.  For  I  was 
then  surrounded  by  the  dearest  earthly  objects 
of  my  fond  affection,  and  now  I  go  about  from 
place  to  place,  a  stranger  upon  the  earth,  but 


LETTERS    TO    I! IS    WIFE.  59 

measurably  quiet  in  my  situation.  If  I  could 
only  hear  that  all  were  well,  I  think  that  I 
could  go  on  cheerfully  ;  but  we  must  learn  sub- 
mission to  our  lot. 

First-day. — We  have  just  returned  from  a 
large  meeting,  in  which  we  were  favoured  with 
a  cloud  of  witnesses  that  we  are  not  here  of 
ourselves. 

Accept  the  cordial  affection  of  your  tender 
father. 

Nathan  Hunt. 


PiiiLADELniiA,  8tli  nio.  18,  1811. 
Dear  Wife  : 

We  arrived  here  yesterday  morning  in  time 
to  attend  the  Monthly  Meeting  in  the  Northern 
District ;  expect  to  attend  the  Southern  to-day, 
and  Middle  to-morow.  It  is  a  time  of  general 
health.  With  pleasure  I  announce  the  recep- 
tion of  thy  affectionate  communication  of  the 
6th,  and  dear  Asenath's  of  the  30th  of  last 
month.  Be  assured  it  affords  me  the  greatest 
pleasure,  to  hear  of  thine  and  the  children's 
welfare.  I  expect  we  shall  leave  this  place  in 
eight  or  ten  days  for  Wilmington  ;  from  thence 
to  Baltimore,  R,ichmond,  and  Petersburgh. 

My  desire  to  be  with  you  exceeds  anything 


60  iMEMOlll    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

I  have  ever  known  before  ;  whether  I  shall  be 
permitted  to  see  you  again,  I  sometimes  think 
doubtful.  If  it  should  be  the  case,  I  greatly 
desire  it  may  be  to  the  honour  of  the  divine 
Master,  not  merely  for  our  own  gratification. 
Friends  are  abundantly  attentive.  My  kind 
friends,  Thomas  and  Charity  Rotch,  observing 
hoAV  weary  I  was  with  riding  on  horseback, 
kindly  furnished  me  w'ith  a  new  chaise,  which 
is  indeed  a  great  accommodation. 

29th. — I  feel  low  and  solitary  this  morning 
(which  it  has  often  been  my  lot  to  do),  although 
surrounded  with  the  noise  of  a  tumultuous  city. 

My  way  hath  been  abundantly  as  in  the 
deep ;  but  I  am  mercifully  preserved  in  a  good 
degree  of  resignation,  remembering  that  the 
Lord  on  high  is  mightier  than  the  noise  of 
many  waters — yea,  than  the  mighty  waves  of 
the  sea. 

Oh !  my  dear  wife  and  children,  watch  over 
yourselves  continually ;  consider  every  word 
that  proceedeth  out  of  your  mouth ;  it  is  im- 
possible for  us  to  be  too  guarded.  No  words 
can  possibly  convey  to  you  the  concern  of  my 
heart  for  your  preservation  in  the  meekness 
and  simplicity  of  the  pure  Truth,  that  you  may 
be  the  children  of  the  Highest.     Let  there  be 


LETTERS   TO    HIS    WIFE.  61 

no  delay  in  religious  duties  ;  some  of  you  have 
believed^  and  therefore  speak. 

Kind  love  to  our  neighbours  in  your  freedom. 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Germantown,  5tb  mo.  13,  1814, 
My  precious  Wife  : 

Thy  cordial  salutation,  dated  from  our  com- 
fortable little  room,  on  the  3d  inst.,  I  received 
the  11th,  only  eight  days  from  under  thy  dear 
hand.  Be  assured  no  messenger  of  this  kind 
ever  gave  more  genuine  consolation  to  my 
anxious  mind,  although  the  poor  state  of  thy 
health  still  gives  concern.  For  no  considera- 
tion of  earthly  enjoyments  would  I  be  deprived 
of  being  with  thee  in  spirit,  and  sympathizing 
in  thy  affliction,  when  absent  in  the  body.  And 
I  still  cherish  the  belief  we  shall  be  favoured 
to  mingle  together  again  in  the  tender  enjoy- 
ments of  the  domestic  circle.  We  left  the  city 
yesterday,  after  one  of  the  most  solemn  meet- 
ings I  ever  attended  in  that  place.  The  Gos- 
pel flowed  through  the  poor  Carolinian  trumpet 
to  the  admiration  of  the  inhabitants.  I  never 
had  a  greater  evidence  of  being  in  my  right 
place,  and  am  mercifully  preserved  in  humi- 
lity. 


62  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

To-morrow  morning  I  expect  the  trying  sepa- 
ration between  Asenath  and  myself  will  take 
place.  I  see  my  way  clearly,  pretty  direct  to 
Redstone,  and  so  into  Ohio.  Asenath  will 
acknowledge  the  affecting  letter  of  her  beloved 
sister  in  a  few  days,  when  I  am  gone,  and  she 
becomes  a  little  settled.  Never  did  words  sink 
deeper  in  my  heart  than  my  dear  Abigail's  ex- 
pression of  concern  for  my  preservation.  My 
feelings  have  been  often  tenderly  awakened  on 
her  account.     She  has  a  place  near  my  heart. 

The  thing  particularly  queried  after,  like 
thyself,  I  put  off  to  the  last.  I  have  some- 
times been  quite  poorly,  so  that  I  should  not 
have  sat  up,  could  I  have  been  at  home,  and 
had  thy  tender  care ;  but  I  have  been  recruit- 
ing for  a  week  or  two,  and  now  feel  pretty  well. 
Love  to  the  little  flock,  and  all  our  neighbours. 
Affectionately  thine, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Philadelphia,  5tli  mo.  G,  1820, 
My  endeared  Wife  and  Children : 

I  am  now  sitting  at  John  Warder's  desk,  to 
perform  a  very  pleasing  duty  to  the  tenderest 
ties  in  life.  We  travelled  comfortably,  and 
were  generally  pretty  well  in  health.     After 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  63 

leaving  Petersburgh,  went  on  to  Riclimond  ; 
from  thence  through  Alexandria  to  Baltimore, 
where  we  remained  over  first-day.  Attended 
meeting  to  our  satisfaction.  Fifth-day  reached 
Horsham,  at  their  Quarterly  Meeting,  where  I 
had  evidence  of  being  in  the  line  of  duty. 

May  I  never  forget  the  favour  I  experienced 
on  the  last  sweetly  solemn  morning  that  I  spent 
with  you.  The  Great  Master  could  scarcely 
have  given  us  a  clearer  evidence  of  his  appro- 
bation and  assurance  that  this  movement  was 
of  his  begetting.  My  precious  wife,  keep  near 
the  Source  of  Good  that  so  prepared  thee  for 
this  separation,  and  it  will  certainly  preserve 
thee  in  patience  and  in  resignation,  and  qualify 
thee  to  enjoy  our  meeting  rightly  when  I  am 
restored  to  you  again.  Prepare  us  all  for 
mingling  in  those  joys  that  only  are  experi- 
enced through  faithfulness. 

And  you,  my  children,  walk  humbly  before 
your  God;  attend  to  all  your  religious  duties, 
and  lay  up  treasure  where  no  moth  corrupts. 
Keep  your  minds  inward,  often  remembering 
your  latter  end. 

My  kind  host  and  hostess  send  their  love  to 
you.     Farewell — farewell. 

Nathan  Hunt. 


64  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

New  York,  Gth  mo.  6,  1820. 
My  dear  Wife  and  Cliildren : 

I  now  sit  down  to  stain  the  last  sheet  of  paper 
(if  the  Lord  should  prosper  my  way),  until  the 
mighty  deep  rolls  between  us.  You  can  better 
conceive  my  feelings  than  I  can  pen  them.  All 
the  faculties  of  my  soul  are  engaged  for  your 
preservation  as  for  my  own,  and  first  for  my 
precious  wife,  that  thy  mind  may  be  kept  in 
that  quiet  pavilion  wherein  earthly  privations 
are  but  little  felt,  and  where,  in  resignation  to 
the  will  of  Him  who  first  united  us  together  in 
the  hidden  life,  we  cease  from  our  own  wills ; 
and  as  thou  keepest  here,  I  do  believe  thou  wilt 
know  something  of  the  blessed  state  described 
by  the  prophet :  "  The  light  of  the  moon  will 
be  as  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  the  light  of  the 
sun  as  the  light  of  seven  days." 

Oh !  my  dear  wife,  trust  in  the  Lord,  and 
thou  wilt  become  as  Mount  Zion,  that  can  never 
be  removed. 

And  my  prayers  are  for  you,  my  dear  child- 
ren, in  your  varied  situations  and  line  of  life. 
Words  fail  to  convey  the  deep  travail  of  soul 
which  your  tried  parent  feels  for  you,  yet  he 
dare  not  draw  back  from  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
I  never  have  more  clearly  seen  the  emptiness 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    AVIFE.  65 

and  vanity  of  every  earthly  thing.  Oh !  how 
I  do  desire  that  a  steady  watchfulness  may  at- 
tend your  steps  while  walking  on  this  sea  of 
glass  mingled  with  fire. 

My  dear  Asenath,  keep  on  the  watch-tower, 
and  hold  the  helm  steady  when  thou  art  at 
liberty  from  the  Master's  work  to  be  at  home. 
Watch  out  thy  opportunity  to  draw  the  family 
into  silence,  that  herein  they  may  learn  it  is 
the  law  of  the  spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus, 
which  can  alone  set  us  free  from  the  law  of  sin 
and  death. 

And  thou,  dear  Samuel,  consider  the  import- 
ance of  thy  situation  as  the  head  of  the  family, 
and  seek  after  that  wisdom  which  will  guide 
thee  in  stability,  that  the  expressive  language 
of  thy  conduct  may  have  a  happy  influence  on 
those  about  thee. 

My  beloved  Abigail,  keep  in  thy  tent,  and 
listen  to  the  instructions  of  thy  holy  Leader. 
Thus  shall  thy  boughs  shoot  over  the  wall,  and 
though  the  archers  shoot  at  thee,  and  grieve 
thee,  thy  bow  shall  abide  in  strength,  and  the 
arms  of  thy  hands  be  made  strong  by  the  hands 
of  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob. 

My  dear  Nathan,  keep  near  the  unfoldings 


66  .MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

of  mysterious  love  upon  thy  understanding,  and 
they  will  guide  thee  home  to  God  and  glory. 

My  beloved  Thomas,  watch  unto  prayer,  that 
thou  mayst  be  kept  in  thy  moments  of  vivacity 
from  doing  or  from  saying  anything  that  in  a 
serious  hour  would  wound  thy  tender  feelings. 

And  now,  I  must  commit  you  to  the  Lord 
Almighty,  who  is  able  to  do  great  things  for 
you,  and  who,  as  you  submit  your  wills  to  His, 
will  give  you  grace  and  glory,  and  no  good 
thing  shall  be  withholden  from  you. 

I  have,  through  Divine  mercy,  been  favoured 
with  health,  and  generally  with  quietude  of 
mind,  only  the  time  has  been  a  little  tedious 
when  not  taken  up  with  attending  meetings.  I 
feel  a  great  desire  to  be  in  Ireland. 

Next  seventh-day  we  are  to  go  on  board  the 
Amity.  It  is  a  beautiful  ship,  has  fine  accom- 
modations. Our  captain  said  to  be  a  very  clever 
man ;  his  name  is  Maxwell.  There  are  twenty- 
five  passengers,  among  whom  is  Middleton,  the 
minister  from  our  government  to  Russia.  Wil- 
liam Hickman  and  myself  have  the  two  best 
berths  in  the  ship. 

The  kindness  and  attention  of  Friends  in 
Philadelphia,  Burlington,  and  New  York  ex- 
ceed anything  I  have  ever  known.     And  they 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  67 

united  in  their  testimony  of  assurance  that  I 
was  in  the  line  of  my  duty.  Esther  Griffin 
and  Hannah  Field  desire  their  love  to  you. 

I  have  not  been  led  into  much  labour,  but  a 
few  times  with  great  clearness.  I  desire  to  be 
remembered  to  our  neighbours,  as  though  their 
names  were  mentioned. 

Farewell — farewell. 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Liverpool,  7th  mo.  4,  1820. 

My  dearly  beloved  Wife  and  Family  : 

I  arrived  here  safely  last  evening,  after 
tossing  on  the  mighty  waters  three-and-twenty 
days,  in  which  I  was  mercifully  preserved  in 
great  quietude  and  resignation  to  Divine  dis- 
posal. We  had  a  good  deal  of  rough  weather, 
high  winds,  and  heavy  rains.  I  viewed  the 
great  deep  with  astonishment — at  all  times 
beautifully  grand ;  but  when  a  strong  gale  puts 
it  in  motion,  it  is  awfully  majestic  beyond  the 
power  of  pen  to  give  an  adequate  idea  of.  I 
was  much  favoured  with  health  on  the  passage ; 
about  five  minutes  concluded  my  sea-sickness. 
I  hit  my  leg  against  the  sky-light  the  fourth 
day  after  we  left  shore,  and  bruised  it;  it  is 
not  yet  quite  healed.     My  'andlady,  Susannah 


68  iAIEMOIll    OF    NATUAN    HUNT. 

IladAvin,  is  a  skilful  nurse,  and  gives  me  every 
attention  needful,  so  that  I  think  it  will  not 
long  detain  me. 

My  way  now  opens  clearly  through  the 
North  of  England,  so  to  the  Half  Year's  Meet- 
ing held  in  Scotland,  thence  to  Ireland.  I 
expect  my  kind  landlord,  Isaac  Hadwin,  will 
accompany  me  ;  we  probably  shall  travel  in  a 
chaise.  Oh  !  how  my  mind  turns  towards  you 
— the  great  deep  rolling  as  it  does  between  us. 
The  recollections  of  our  parting  moments  and 
the  sweet  feelings  that  attended  them,  are  some 
of  the  most  precious  of  my  life.  But  though 
many  and  deep  have  been  my  wadings  since 
that  time,  I  have  seen  no  moment  in  which  I 
have  felt  the  least  desire  to  be  back  again  until 
the  right  time  comes. 

I  often  visit  you  in  the  house,  in  the  fields 
and  in  the  meadows,  and  all  my  desire  is  for 
your  preservation ;  that  whilst  I  am  engaged 
for  the  welfare  of  the  human  family,  my  dear 
wife  and  children  may  be  advocates  for  the 
cause  of  Truth  in  their  day  and  generation.  I 
would  recommend  that  at  the  close  of  your 
morning  meal,  you  read  a  chapter  in  the  Testa- 
ment. Begin  with  Matthew  20,  read  all  those 
passages  that  set  forth  the  most  clearly  the 


LETTERS   TO    HIS    WIFE.  69 

meekness  of  the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away 
the  sins  of  the  world,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but 
it  will  be  productive  of  good — that  you  will  be 
better  prepared  for  the  labour  of  the  day: 
"  The  work  of  righteousness  is  peace,  and  the 
effect  thereof  quietness  and  assurance  for  ever." 
My  precious  wife,  I  cannot  convey  to  thee 
the  near  sympathy  of  my  soul,  but  thou  canst 
read  it  in  the  lines  of  thy  own  experience — ^. 
feeling  with  me,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land. 
I  have  hope  and  confidence  that  I  shall  be 
preserved  and  restored  to  thee  and  the  dear 
children.  May  we  dwell  near  the  Fountain  of 
Wisdom  until  the  time  appointed  comes  !  With 
love  to  all, 

Affectionately  yours, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Liverpool,  7th  mo,  20,  1820. 
My  dearly  beloved  Wife  and  Children  : 

I  am  nearly  four  thousand  miles  from  you 
in  body,  but  present  in  spirit — my  heart  is  full 
of  solicitude  for  you — that  wisdom  and  pru- 
dence may  mark  all  your  steps  ;  that  whilst 
your  hands  are  employed  in  the  necessary 
concerns  of  life,  your  minds  may  be  inwardly 
engaged  to  procure  heavenly  food. 


70  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

My  pathway  since  I  left  you,  has  been 
marked  with  many  sorrows ;  and  I  receive 
them  as  my  necessary  food,  that  I  may  keep 
my  body  in  subjection,  and  that  the  Lord  in 
all  things  may  have  the  praise.  He  has  seen 
meet  to  administer  the  rod,  and  also  has  been 
mercifully  pleased  to  grant  me  his  sustaining 
staff  to  comfort  and  support  the  lonely  travel- 
•ler.  Then,  why  art  thou  cast  down,  oh  my 
soul,  as  if  no  sorrow  was  like  unto  thy  sorrow  ? 
Suffering  has  been  the  path  which  the  Lord's 
servants  have  ever  trod  into  blessedness ;  for 
"  call  to  mind  the  former  times,  the  days  of 
many  generations,"  and  see  which  of  them  were 
without  their  share  of  suffering.  Nay,  recol- 
lect the  sufferings  of  the  Saviour  himself,  of 
whom  the  Father  gave  this  testimony :  "  This 
is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased." 
''  The  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring 
us  to  God."  How  inexpressible  his  agony 
when  in  the  Garden  under  the  weight  of  the 
great  work  he  came  to  finish  !  His  sweat  was 
as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood.  Betrayed  by 
one  of  his  disciples,  denied  by  another,  and 
finally  forsaken  by  them  all ;  and  when  about 
to  suffer  the  painful,  ignominious  death  on  the 
cross,  his  language  was — his,  who  had  done  no 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  71 

sin,  neither  was  any  guile  found  in  his  mouth, 
in  that  most  pinching  hour — his  solemnly  affect- 
ing language  was :  "  My  God,  my  God,  why 
hast  thou  forsaken  me  !"  And  as  it  became 
him  in  bringing  many  souls  unto  glory,  thus 
to  make  the  Captain  of  their  salvation  perfect 
through  suffering — why  shouldst  thou  think  it 
hard,  oh  my  soul !  to  taste  a  little  of  that  cup 
which  thy  Lord  drank  so  deeply  of,  when  in 
thy  measure,  thou  art  now  engaged  in  the 
same  work  of  gathering  souls  to  God  ?  When 
thou  passest  through  the  waters  he  will  be  with 
thee,  and  through  the  fires  thou  shalt  not  be 
burned.  Therefore  take  courage,  oh  my  soul ! 
for  no  good  thing  will  he  withhold  from  those 
who  walk  uprightly.  Here  you  may  see  a 
little  of  the  travail  of  the  soul  of  your  husband 
and  father. 

Second-day  morning. — I  attended  Monthly 
Meeting  in  this  city  last  fifth-day — the  first 
time  I  was  able  to  get  out.  Attended  forenoon- 
meeting  yesterday  ;  the  afternoon  put  off  at  my 
request  till  six  o'clock,  and  general  invitation 
given.  I  opened  with  the  declaration  of  our  Sa- 
viour :  "Except  ye  be  converted  and  become  as 
little  children,"  &c.    Friends  said  it  was  a  very 


iZ  MEMOIR.   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

solid  meeting;   and  most  of  those  who  took  me 
by  the  hand,  had  faces  wet  with  tears. 

My  dear  Dr.  Watson,  who  has  attended  faith- 
fully to  my  sore  leg,  says  I  may  now  proceed 
with  safety. 

I  am  in  health,  and  cheerfully  resigned  to  my 
lot.  I.  Hadwin  my  companion — we  travel  in  a 
gig.     Love  to  our  family. 

Yours  in  the  Lord, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Glasgow,  8th  mo.  21,  1820. 
Most  affectionately  beloved  Wife  and  Children  : 
Your  favours  of  the  24th  of  5th  mo.  and 
27th  of  6th  mo.  were  duly  received.  I  was 
tenderly  affected  on  hearing  of  your  being  so 
unwell,  and  the  continuance  of  the  affliction  of 
my  dearest  earthly  connexion,  but  hope  through 
mercy  when  I  hear  from  you  again,  things  will 
be  more  agreeable  to  the  desire  of  my  heart, 
for  I  never  felt  more  deeply  interested  in  your 
welfare.  Many  are  the  prayers  that  ascend, 
and  the  tears  that  flow  down  my  cheeks  for 
your  preservation  in  the  pavilion  of  Divine  love 
— that  none  of  the  suggestions  of  the  accuser 
of  the  brethren  may  be  able  to  move  you  off 
the  true  foundation.     I  have  been  eleven  days 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  73 

in  Scotland.  Spent  five  at  Edinburgh,  visited 
all  the  families  of  Friends  in  that  great  city,  the 
most  beautiful  in  the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain 
— had  three  public  meetings,  they  were  interest- 
ing opportunities.  The  Scotch  are  an  open, 
kind-hearted  people,  and  I  frequently  think  I 
can  discover  the  countenance  of  a  brother  or 
sister,  a  son  or  a  daughter  among  them.  I 
visited  the  palace  where  the  kings  of  Scotland 
sat  upon  their  throne.  Saw  many  portraits  of 
them — of  some  that  reigned  hundreds  of  years 
ago. 

Feeling  quite  clear  of  Edinburgh,  left  it  on 
sixth-day  morning  and  rode  forty-two  miles  to 
this  place.  On  seventh-day  visited  all  the 
families  of  friends,  and  yesterday  attended 
meeting  in  the  morning,  and  had  a  very  crowded 
public  one  at  6  o'clock.  It  was  believed  there 
were  four  thousand  persons  there.  The  pros- 
pect was  an  awful  one  to  me^  to  see  so  many  of 
the  great  and  mighty  of  this  world.  The  Rus- 
sian minister,  his  consort,  and  attendants  were 
very  near  me.  But  in  a  little  time  the  power 
of  truth  arose,  and  they  all  gave  me  close  at- 
tention. 

To-morrow  I  expect  to  attend  Friends'  Two 


74  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

Months  Meeting  here,  and  afterwards  set  out 
for  Aberdeen,  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  north 
of  this.  I  shall  attend  the  Half-Year's  Meeting 
(which  will  be  this  day  week),  if  nothing  should 
prevent,  and  quickly  after  that  I  expect  to  re- 
turn to  this  place  and  embark  for  Ireland. 

Isaac  Hadwin  is  still  with  me ;  he  has  been  a 
very  agreeable,  attentive  companion — expects 
to  return  home  when  I  sail  for  Ireland,  and 
Edward  AVilson  is  to  unite  with  me  as  a  com- 
panion. Thus  am  I  provided  for.  I  am  through 
Divine  mercy  in  good  health — climate  and  food 
agree  with  me.  I  try  to  attend  to  my  duty 
faithfully  through  the  day,  and  generally  sleep 
sweetly  at  night. 

I  never  found  my  way  easier  in  getting  along 
among  any  people ;  they  say  I  am  the  only  in- 
stance they  have  ever  known  of  an  American 
looking  younger  than  he  was,  and  are  hardly 
willing  to  give  America  credit  for  giving  me 
birth.  It  is  now  about  the  height  of  harvest 
here,  and  the  weather  is  so  cold  I  wore  my 
flannel  and  surtout  in  riding. 

Each  day  still  makes  the  time  of  absence  one 
day  less.  I  hope  we  shall  possess  our  souls  in 
patience  till  we  meet  again.     Tell  Nathan  and 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  75 

Joshua  to  go  on  y/ith  their  business  with  great 
care,  and  not  extend  it  too  far. 

In  the  nearest  and  dearest  love  to  you  all, 
Yours  truly, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Glasgow,  9tli  mo.  G,  1820. 
My  near  and  dearly  beloved  Wife  and  Children : 

I  had  expected  this  day  to  have  sailed  for 
Ireland,  but  some  of  the  machinery  of  the  steam- 
boat wanted  mending,  which  will  detain  us  till 
to-morrow  morning,  and  feeling  my  mind  released 
from  Scotland,  knew  not  how  I  could  spend  this 
day  better  than  in  writing  to  you.  I  have  been 
at  Aberdeen  since  I  wrote  last,  attended  the 
Half-Year's  Meeting  there,  and  saw  John  Wig- 
ham,  who  desired  to  be  remembered  to  you. 

I  have  got  along  so  far  to  my  humbling  ad- 
miration, sustained  and  supported  through  all 
the  conflicts  that  fall  to  my  lot,  for  which  I 
praise  the  Being  that  gave  me  existence.  I 
pass  on  through  hundreds  and  thousands  and 
meet  no  face  I  ever  saw  before :  none  but  those 
who  have  passed  through  similar  scenes  know 
what  it  is  to  feel  one's  self  a  stranger  in  a 
foreign  land,  far  from  wife,  children,  and  every 
near  and  dear  connexion. 


76  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

But  all  these  privations  I  would  gladly  endure 
if  I  may  but  be  made  use  of  as  an  instrument 
in  the  Divine  hand  to  beget  souls  unto  Himself ; 
and  my  own  poor  soul  be  permitted  to  occupy 
some  remote  corner  of  his  glorious  kingdom, 
there  to  behold  more  faithful  spirits  in  their 
acts  of  adoration ;  or  that  I  even  may  be  made 
a  stepping-stone  for  saints  to  pass  over  to  glory. 
My  mind  is  at  this  time  remarkably  taken  from 
the  world,  to  behold  all  mundane  things  draw- 
ing to  a  point  of  nothingness  and  vanity :  "  When 
the  heavens  shall  be  rolled  together  as  a  scroll, 
and  the  elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat." 
I  tremble  lest  my  many  deviations  may  not  be 
done  away  before  that  day  of  the  Lord  shall 
come,  wherein  I  must  appear  naked  before  my 
Judge. 

My  mind  has  been  dipped  into  deep  feeling 
with  you  of  late ;  some  of  you  in  an  especial 
manner  who  I  believe  can  say  with  Job  formerly, 
"Wearisome  days  and  nights  are  appointed 
me."  Oh!  howl  travail  for  my  children  and 
grandchildren,  that  they  may  walk  in  the  ways 
of  truth.  Your  active  minds  have  often  been 
arrested  by  the  hand  of  the  dear  Master,  and 
had  impressions  made  upon  them  which  I  hope 
will  be  lasting.     The  seed  so  plentifully  sown, 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  77 

I  believe,  has  not  all  fallen  upon  stony  ground, 
nor  has  it  all  been  choked  with  thorns  and 
briars ;  on  the  contrary,  through  adorable 
mercy,  some  of  it  has  found  soil  congenial  to 
its  own  nature,  where  I  humbly  hope  nothing 
will  be  suffered  to  hurt  it  in  the  progressive 
stages  through  which  it  has  to  pass :  that  shel- 
tered in  the  tender  blade,  and  protected  in  the 
ripening  ear,  by  that  love  which  causeth  the  joy 
that  is  known  in  the  presence  of  the  holy  angels, 
the  full  corn  will  be  nourished  until  ripe  fruit 
be  brought  forth,  to  the  praise  of  the  great 
Husbandman  and  the  exaltation  of  His  ever 
excellent  Name. 

On  arriving  here,  I  received  a  truly  accepta- 
ble letter  from  my  beloved  sons,  Samuel  and 
Thomas,  dated  23d  of  7th  mo.  The  informa- 
tion it  contained  was  a  mixture  of  joy  and  sor- 
row :  joy,  that  you  were  generally  in  pretty 
good  health ;  and  sorrow,  that  my  dear  and 
precious  wife  continues  to  be  so  afflicted.  Well, 
my  dear,  trust  in  the  Father  of  mercies,  for  he 
will  not  forsake  those  that  put  their  whole  trust 
and  confidence  in  Him.  My  dear  children, 
dwell  together  in  love,  help  one  another  all  you 
can,  and  be  continually  attentive  to  your  dear 
mother. 


78  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

I  expected  to  hear  in  your  last  of  my  beloved 
Asenath  being  out  in  the  field  of  labour,  but 
hope  she  will  neither  go  before  nor  lag  behind 
her  guide. 

I  was   much  pleased  to  hear  that  Friends 
gave  up  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  without  dis- 
puting, for  suffering  ever  has  been  and  ever  will 
be  the  lot  of  those  who  stand  for  the  truth. 
Yours,  in  the  Lord, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

I  am  in  good  health,  and  in  a  comfortable 
disposition  of  mind,  at  peace  with  all  men. 

Ireland,  0th  mo.  19,  1820. 
My  dearest  earthly  ties  : 

I  have  been  eleven  days  in  Ireland.,  and  had 
twelve  meetings.  I  left  Glasgow  last  fifth-day 
week,  and  landed  at  Belfast  next  day.  I  am 
progressing  with  all  diligence ;  have  got  through 
the  meetings  in  the  Province  of  Ulster,  and 
expect  to  go  to-morrow  to  Leinstcr  and  attend 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Edenderry.  I  think, 
according  to  present  prospects,  I  shall  get 
through  Ireland  in  five  or  six  weeks.     *     *     * 

Liverpool,  10th  mo.  30,  1820. 
My  dearly  beloved  Wife  and  Children : 

With  very  tender  emotions  I  sit  down  to 


LETTERS    TO    Ilia    WIFE.  79 

commune  with  you,  and  although  the  mighty 
deep  now  rolls  between  us,  my  spirit  is  united 
with  yours  in  the  bond  and  covenant  of  light 
and  life ;  thus  kindred  spirits  mingle  in  that 
fellowship,  which  the  world  knows  not  of,  be- 
cause it  is  only  spiritually  discerned.  May  we 
be  favoured  to  keep  in  the  everlasting  patience 
through  all  the  tribulations  that  may  be  dis- 
pensed to  us  in  unerring  wisdom,  that  when 
time  to  us  may  be  no  more,  we  may  receive  an 
admission  into  those  habitations  where  the 
enemy  will  cease  to  trouble,  and  where  the 
weary  will  for  ever  rest. 

I  am  resigned  to  my  lot  in  body,  soul,  and 
spirit.  Methinks  I  see  a  Hand  removing  all 
perishable  things  more  and  more  from  me ; 
under  which  I  desire  to  stand  as  a  weaned 
child,  craving  nothing  but  what  is  quite  con- 
venient for  me. 

I  arrived  here  last  night  from  Ireland  in 
health  and  safety,  through  the  mercy  of  my 
blessed  Creator  ;  having  spent  seven  weeks 
there,  and  had  many  solid  and  interesting  meet- 
ings. Last  sixth-day  morning,  we  took  the 
steamboat  from  Dublin  for  Holyhead  ;  there 
was  a  lively  breeze  of  wind  when  we  set  out, 
and  it  increased    to   a   tremendous   gale — the 


80  MEMOIR   OP   NATHAN    HUNT. 

waves  rose  as  high  as  the  top  of  the  mast,  and 
we  were  indeed  dreadfully  tossed.  I  stood  in 
the  cabin-door  and  held  fast  by  a  rope,  view- 
ing with  astonishment  the  scene.  In  a  degree 
of  solemn  quiet  I  thought  upon  my  wife,  my 
children,  my  friends,  and  my  home ;  and  my 
soul  centered  in  a  deep  repose,  safe  anchored 
on  its  God,  whose  voice  is  mightier  than  the 
sound  of  many  waters.  In  this  situation  we 
continued  about  six  hours,  when,  contrary  to 
all  human  calculation,  we  arrived  in  safety  at 
our  destined  port.  I  expect  to  tarry  a  few 
days  with  my  kind  friends,  Isaac  and  Susannah 
Hadwin,  and  then  set  out  again  to  the  east  side 
of  England.  I  am  in  good  health,  but  feel 
little,  which  is  often  my  lot  when  surrounded 
with  company — then  I  retire  inward,  which  is 
the  alone  place  of  safety  ;  and  sometimes  while 
dwelling  on  the  steps  which  led  to  this  separa- 
tion from  all  that  I  hold  dearest  on  the  earth, 
I  receive  the  intimation,  that  he  that  putteth 
his  hand  to  the  plough  and  lookcth  back  is  not 
fit  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  So  I  am  en- 
couraged to  go  forward  and  do  my  own  busi- 
ness, let  others  do  what  they  may. 

Oh,  the  world  !  the  world !  the  world !  how 
unsettled,  how  unstable,  how  uncertain  is  every- 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  81 

thing  that  relates  to  it !  I  want  to  say  to  you, 
my  beloveds,  Take  care  of  the  mystery  of  in- 
iquity, which  worketh  wonderfully  to  frustrate 
the  designs  of  a  kind  Providence.  It  blinds 
the  eye  and  darkens  the  understanding,  and 
thus  men  err  in  judgment,  and  think  they  are 
doing  God  service  when  they  are  gratifying 
their  own  creaturely  wills.  The  time  of  our 
annual  solemnity  is  now  approaching.  How  I 
desire  my  dear  wife  may  not  be  interrupted 
with  inconsiderate  company ;  and  you,  my  dear 
children,  be  careful  not  to  look  about,  nor 
suffer  your  minds  to  be  attracted  by  outward 
objects.  When  in  meeting,  humbly  seek  for 
the  help  and  strength  of  the  Lord  to  perform 
acceptable  worship  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  I 
also  desire  that  my  sons,  Nathan  and  Joshua, 
may  be  exceedingly  careful  in  their  business. 
There  have  been  many  sorrowful  failures  even 
among  Friends.  Now  in  that  love  over  which 
neither  time  nor  distance  have  any  influence,  I 
bid  you  all  farewell. 

Nathan  Hunt. 


Kendall,  11th  mo.  22,  1820. 
Dear  Wife  and  Children : 

I  received  Asenath's  affecting  and  interest 

G 


82  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

ing  letter,  dated  23d  of  9th  month,  at  Liver- 
pool, the  1st  of  this  month.  The  account  of 
my  dear  wife  having  been  better  in  health,  and 
able  to  be  at  meeting  a  few  weeks  before,  was 
truly  grateful  to  my  feelings ;  but  her  being 
reduced  again  under  the  hand  of  affliction, 
affected  my  heart  with  deep  sympathy  and 
prayer  to  God  for  his  interposition  and  mercy 
to  the  partner  of  my  joys  and  soitows. 

Dear  heart,  be  encouraged  ;  I  believe  thy 
redemption  is  sealed,  although  afflictions  attend 
thee  here. 

I  obseiTed,  with  tender  emotion,  thy  pleasant 
inquiry,  if  it  was  not  time  to  say  something 
about  coming  home.  I  can  only  say,  I  am  now- 
far  away,  and  I  humbly  hope  under  the  guid- 
ance of  Him  whose  ways  are  unsearchable,  and 
as  I  am  principally  led  to  large  places,  and 
smaller  ones  hidden  from  my  view,  and  as  all 
prospect  of  going  to  the  Continent  is  at  present 
quite  withdrawn  from  me,  my  return  may  pos- 
sibly be  sooner  than  was  anticipated  when  I 
left  you.  But  all  this  must  be  left  to  Him  who 
tries  the  reins. 

Since  1  last  wrote  I  have  been  in  the  West 
and  North  of  England,  and  had  some  very 
blessed  meetings  there.     I  go  on  in  great  low- 


LETTERS  TO  HIS    WIFE.  83 

liness  of  mind  and  creaturely  abasement,  often 
remembering  the  language  of  Job,  "  I  have 
heard  of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  but 
now  mine  eye  seeth  thee ;  wherefore  I  abhor 
myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes."  There 
is  scarcely  a  pillow  on  which  I  lay  mine  head 
that  is  not  more  or  less  wet  with  my  tears,  and 
many  prayers  ascend  for  thee,  my  precious 
wife,  our  children,  and  myself,  with  prgises  to 
the  Author  of  all  good. 

Information  of  the  decease  of  dear  Stephen 
Henley  produced  deep  feeling,  and  I  hope  it 
may  revive  this  intimation  on  the  minds  of 
many,  "  Be  ye  also  ready,  for  in  such  an  hour 
as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  Man  will  come." 

I  was  much  with  you  in  the  time  of  our  An- 
nual Meeting.  I  believe  there  were  some  among 
you  thought  on  their  absent  brother,  and  saw 
he  was  not  in  the  seat  he  used  to  be.  I  hope 
the  Master  of  assemblies  was  with  you,  and  all 
was  conducted  in  brotherly  love.  But  I  have 
often  many  fears  for  Zion,  lest  there  should  be 
breaches  made  in  her  walls. 

I  gave  you  an  account  of  my  perilous  pass- 
age from  Ireland  in  my  last.  The  people  in 
the  higher  circles  live  in  great  style,  though 
many  of  them  too  fast  for  their  incomes.    Thus 


84  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

they  are  often  in  great  difficulties,   and  there 
have  been  some  shameful  faihires  among  them. 

The  situation  of  the  lower  orders  of  the  peo- 
ple beggars  all  description.  Both  men  and 
women  bare-legged  and  tattered,  and  children 
naked  as  they  came  into  the  world.  They  are 
so  oppressed  with  rents  and  priests'  demands 
that  many  of  them  live  upon  potatoes.  My 
meetings  there  w^ere  very  solid  ones,  and  after 
meeting  the  gay  circles  gathered  round  me. 
Sometimes  three  or  four  will  have  hold  of  my 
hand  at  a  time.  I  have  not  seen  Huldah  Sears. 
She  has  been  in  Scotland,  and  gone  to  Ireland, 
so  that  it  is  not  likely  we  shall  meet. 

I  look,  in  a  few  days,  to  have  a  letter  from 
you.     May  the  Lord  be  with  you  and  me. 

Nathan  Hunt. 

1820. 
My  dear  AYife  and  Children : 

I  received,  on  the  3d  instant,  my  daughter's 
very  acceptable  letter.  It  was  truly  grateful 
to  hear  that  you  were  all  in  pretty  good  health, 
and  that  my  dear  wife  was  favoured  with  resig- 
nation. 

I  think  I  never  was  more  in  the  line  of  my 
duty,  and  never  more  preserved  in  lowliness  of 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WJFE.  85 

mind.  Eriends  try  to  detain  me,  telling  me 
such  an  one  stayed  so  long,  and  such  an  one  had 
to  come  back.     But  it  all  avails  nothing. 

I  have  no  doubt  safety  depends  on  my  mind- 
ing my  own  business.  I  suppose  I  have  got 
through  more  meetings  in  the  time  than  any 
Friend  has  ever  done  before  from  our  land. 
They  have,  I  think,  been  mostly  solid  meet- 
ings, and  through  Divine  mercy  sufficient  unto 
the  day  is  the  ability  given,  that  I  have  never 
more  admired  the  goodness  of  my  great  Crea- 
tor, never  more  felt  my  own  insignificance,  nor 
was  ever  more  disposed  to  give  Him  all  the 
praise,  for  He  alone  is  worthy.  May  my  be- 
loved family  keep  under  the  shadow  of  His 
holy  wing,  where  in  His  light  they  will  see 
more  light. 

My  dear  Asenath's  prospect  of  going  to 
Bush  river  met  my  feelings  agreeably.  I  de- 
sire to  draw  your  minds,  my  precious  children, 
from  all  outward  things,  more  into  yourselves, 
and  more  to  God.  When  you  awake  in  the 
morning,  endeavour  to  get  into  pure  silence ; 
and  in  that  frame  wait  upon  God  that  you  may 
feel  his  good  presence ;  lift  up  your  hearts  to 
him  for  preservation  during  the  day,  and  thus 
commit  your  whole  selves  unto  his  blessed  care. 


86  MEMOill    OL'    NATHAN'    HUNT. 

And  when  you  go  to  rest,  strive  to  feel  liis 
good  presence  near  you,  and  under  a  feeling 
of  your  own  unworthiness,  so  humble  your- 
selves in  his  sight  as  to  be  enabled  to  close 
your  eyes  under  a  sense  of  his  forgiveness  and 
love. 

I  now  leave  you  in  the  hands  of  Him  who 
made  you,  and  who  lent  us  to  each  other  for 
our  mutual  help. 

Very  affectionately, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Leeds,  12tli  mo.  20,  1820. 
My  dear  Wife  and  Children  : 

I  have  this  morning  received  both  Nathan 
and  Asenath's  acceptable  letters.  The  infor- 
mation they  contained  produced  sensations  of 
joy  and"  sorrow:  in  the  first  place,  humbling 
satisfaction  and  gratitude  of  heart  to  hear  of 
the  improvement  in  the  health  of  my  dear  wife, 
and  her  expressing  a  wish  that  she  could  write 
to  me — a  thing  I  have  often  thought  of;  it 
would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  see  a  few 
words  in  ner  hand  ;  in  the  second  place,  hear- 
ing of  the  sickness  of  my  dear  daughter  was 
affecting,  but  to  find  she  was  so  far  restored  as 
to  be  able  to  write  to  her  poor  father,  and  at- 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    Vv'IFE. 


tend  the  select  meeting,  was  very  comforting. 
No  words  can  express  the  concern  I  feel  for 
you,  that  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  may  encom- 
pass you  about  and  keep  jou  from  the  paths 
of  the  destroyer. 

My  dear  Asenath,  I  observe  with  deep  sym- 
pathy thy  exercises,  and  believe  thou  hast  been 
favoured  to  settle  rightly  as  to  thy  spending 
the  ensuing  season  at  and  about  home.  I  ap- 
prehend the  field  of  family-visiting  is  large, 
and  I  would  just  say  to  my  beloved  daughter, 
do  not  hurry  too  much  for  thy  strength ;  and 
let  me  know  how  thou  art  getting  on  and  who 
are  thy  companions,  for  I  am  greatly  interested 
in  the  work.  I  observed  Nathan  mentioned, 
that  Samuel  and  Joseph  had  a  prospect  of 
buying  some  land.  I  desire  my  sons  may  con- 
sider the  thing  well,  and  do  not  get  into  diffi- 
culties. It  is  a  trying  thing  to  be  bound  down 
with  debt.  If  there  appears  a  reasonable  pro- 
bability of  getting  through  with  it,  I  should  not 
object. 

Godliness,  with  contentment,  is  great  gain ; 
keep  an  eye  to  this,  my  dear  children,  I  be- 
seech you  all,  and  remember  the  precious  soul 
is  more  than  meat  that  perisheth.  My  soul  is 
in  travail  for  you,  that  none  of  you  may  stray 


88  .MExMOlR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

from  the  fold  of  everlasting  rest.  And  now, 
merciful  God,  what  can  I  more  ardently  desire 
and  pray  for  than  that  thou  shouldst  preserve  my 
precious  wife  and  children  from  all  evil  ?  Keep 
them  in  the  path  of  virtue,  protect  the  frail 
creatures  whom  thou  hast  committed  to  my 
care ;  deliver  them  not,  I  beseech  thee,  a  prey 
to  evil  passions ;  and  if  consistent  with  thy 
holy  wdll,  0  Father !  make  easy  the  course  of 
their  lives.  May  truth  and  innocence  be  the 
companions  of  their  pilgrimage,  and  in  the 
hour  of  judgment  may  I  be  able  to  exclaim 
with  joy :  "  Here,  Lord,  am  I  and  those  whom 
thou  hast  given  me  ;  we  have  been  faithful  to 
our  duties,  and  now  throw  ourselves  upon  thy 
boundless  mercy." 

I  was  pleased  to  hear  who  w^ere  to  be  Ase- 
nath's  companions  in  travel.  I  was  thinking 
of  her  leaving  home  the  day  before  I  received 
Thomas's  letter,  and  these  friends  presented 
very  clearly  to  my  mind — so  I  believe  the  thing 
is  of  the  Lord — he  works  out  of  the  reach  of 
human  calculation,  to  effect  his  great  designs. 

Edward  Wilson  expects  to  leave  me  here,  and 
Richard  Thompson  is  to  be  my  companion. 
Continue  your  attention  to  me  every  month, 
and  as  much  oftener  as  is  convenient.     Dear 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  89 

love  to  all  our  friends  and  many  of  our  neigh- 
bours. 

Yours  sincerely, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Stoke  Newington,  1st  mo.  27,  1821. 
My  dear  Wife : 

With  feelings  of  love  and  sympathy  I  now 
sit  down  to  write  to  thee,  who  hast  been  the 
partner  of  my  joys  and  sorrows  these  many 
years,  to  whom  I  could  pour  out  my  soul  w^ith- 
out  reserve ;  and  though  the  mighty  deep  now 
rolls  between  us,  my  spirit  often,  very  often 
visits  thee  by  night  and  day.  Sometimes  I 
almost  think  I  hear  thy  soothing  voice,  which 
has  so  often  comforted  my  heart,  and  that  I 
sensibly  feel  the  valuable  effects  of  the  travail 
of  thy  spirit  for  my  preservation  in  the  pre- 
sent arduous  engagement.  Truly,  it  is  great 
beyond  anything  I  ever  before  experienced,  and 
solitary  feelings  often  attend  me,  when  all 
around  is  wrapt  in  darkness,  when  no  eye  can 
see,  no  ear  can  hear,  but  the  eye  and  ear  of 
the  High  and  Lofty  One  who  inhabiteth  eter- 
nity. I  do  not  mention  this  complainingly,  or 
as  if  weary  of  my  allotment,  for  I  fully  believe 
that  those  who  visit  the  precious  seed  in  this 


90  MEMOIR    or    NATHAN    HUNT. 

day  of  outward  ease  and  liberty,  wherein  it  is 
pressed  down  as  a  cart  laden  with  sheaves,  must 
go  down  with  it  into  deep  mourning,  and  I  care 
not  what  my  sufferings  are  if  I  can  be  but 
where  Christ  is.  I  know,  my  precious  wife, 
thou  hast  many  lonely  and  solitary  places  to 
pass  through.  I  also  fully  believe  that  thou 
experiencest  the  staff  of  Divine  Love  to  support 
thee  in  and  through  them  alL 

Methinks  I  see  the  tear  of  brokenness  and 
contrition  of  spirit  often  rolling  down  thy 
cheek,  wdiile  the  language  of  thy  heart  is, 
"  Thy  will,  oh  1  Father,  and  not  mine,  be  done." 
When  I  am  ready  to  call  all  in  question  respect- 
ing my  being  here,  I  advert  to  the  feelings  that 
overshadowed  us  in  the  parting  moment,  and 
feel  that  it  was  an  evidence  of  Divine  approba- 
tion,— for  what  but  the  power  of  the  Almighty 
God  could  have  produced  such  calmness  and 
such  sweetness  at  that  time  ? 

The  information  our  dear  children  have  given 
me  from  time  to  time  of  the  continuance  of 
this  comfortable  and  resigned  disposition  of 
mind,  is  pleasant  to  me  beyond  what  I  can  ex- 
press. 

May  the  Lord  be  pleased  to  comfort  you  con- 
tinually with  his   life-giving  presence,   is   the 


LETTi^llS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  Ul 

prayer  of  tliy  husband's  heart.  I  have  had 
many  meetings  along  the  sea-coast ;  six  this 
week  in  London.  To-morrow  I  expect  to  go 
to  Tottenham,  and  return  on  second-day,  then 
go  to  Rochester,  where  William  Rickman  lives, 
and  afterward  hold  some  more  meetings  in 
London. 

I  have  been  considerably  affected  with  cold, 
but  am  now  better.  The  winter  is  moderate, 
but  very  damp,  almost  continually  foggy.  I 
think  we  have  not  had  three  days'  sunshine  in 
three  months.  I  long  for  some  of  the  sweet 
weather  of  America. 

With  feelings  of  uniting  love,  I  am  thy  truly 
sympathizing  husband, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Colchester,  3d  mo.  18,  1821. 
My  dear  Wife  and  Children : 

I  received  last  evening  Samuel's  very  accept- 
able letter,  dated  20th  of  1st  month.  It  gave 
me  as  much  satisfaction  as  any  letter  I  have 
received  from  you  since  I  left  home.  I  am  now 
about  fifty-two  miles  east  of  London,  at  my  very 
kind  friend  James  Barker's ;  have  been  quite 
unwell  for  three  days  past,  under  the  care  of  his 


02  ME.AIOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

physician,  but  am  much  better  this  morning,  and 
hope  in  a  few  da 3^3  to  pursue  my  prospects. 

My  dear  Samuel,  thy  kind  attention  to  the 
family,  farm,  &c.,  gives  me  much  comfort.  I 
should  be  glad  if  Thomas  could  be  satisfied  to 
settle  to  the  farming  business ;  it  seems  the  safest 
way  of  getting  comfortably  through  the  little 
time  that  is  here  afforded  us.  When  I  think 
of  the  exposures  of  medical  men,  I  fear  for  my 
son,  and  wish  that  he  might  become  a  physician 
to  precious  souls. 

My  dear  son,  trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine 
heart,  and  lean  not  to  thy  own  understanding ; 
in  all  thy  w^ays  acknowledge  him,  and  he  shall 
direct  thy  paths. 

London,  3d  mo.  29,  1821. 

I  got  here  last  evening  in  much  better  health 
than  when  I  wrote  the  fore-part  of  this  letter. 

I  received  much  benefit  from  the  attention 
of  the  doctor,  through  the  blessing  of  a  merciful 
Creator.  I  often  visit  you  in  near  and  tender 
feeling,  especially  of  later  time,  supposing  there 
was  a  change  taking  place  in  our  family  by  our 
dear  Abigail  changing  her  way  of  life.  It 
would  have  been  a  pleasant  thing  to  have  been 
present  with  you,  but  as  this  cannot  be,  I  hope 
all  things  may  be  conducted  to  the  honour  of 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  93 

the  great  Name ;  a  thing  we  ought  to  keep  in 
view  at  all  times,  seeing  this  is  the  object  for 
which  we  have  a  being  in  this  world.  Thus 
may  we  be  prepared  to  add  to  the  innumerable 
company  who  have  passed  through  great  tribu- 
lation, and  washed  their  robes  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Therefore  are 
they  before  the  throne  of  God,  and  serve  him 
day  and  night. 

London,  23. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  attended  a 
Quarterly  Meeting  at  Hertford  and  a  Monthly 
Meeting  six  miles  south  of  this.  Yesterday 
attended  the  examination  of  the  scholars  at 
Islington.  In  all  my  labours  I  have  peace  of 
mind. 

On  second  and  third  days  expect  to  attend  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  here.  On  fourth-day  morning 
to  set  out  for  the  Half- Year's  Meeting  in  Wales, 
taking  m.eetings  in  the  way.  So  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  Ireland,  and  return  in  time  for  this. 
If  the  Lord  be  pleased  to  prosper  my  way  as 
he  hath  hitherto  done,  I  have  a  comfortable 
hope  my  labours  will  be  drawing  to  a  close  on 
this  side  of  the  water  before  very  long. 

I  may  possibly  be  ready  to  sail  towards  the 
latter  end  of  the  summer;  but  there  must  be  no 


94  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

disappointment  either  with  you  or  with  myself 
if  I  shouhi  have  to  stay  another  year. 

I  am  now  quite  well  in  health  and  in  a  com- 
fortable state  of  mind,  two  of  the  greatest  bless- 
ings that  can  be  enjoyed  in  this  probationary 
state  of  being.  Ma.y  the  Lord  guide  and  govern 
you  and  influence  your  minds  by  His  holy  spirit, 
and  now 

Farewell  in  Him — dear  love  to  all, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Dublin,  4th  mo.  20,  1821. 
My  dearly  beloved  Wife  and  Children : 

I  received  at  Swansea  in  Wales,  the  11th  inst., 
the  cordially  grateful  letters  of  Asenath,  Mary, 
and  Thomas,  dated  20th  of  2d  month. 

It  is  cause  for  gratitude  that  my  dear  wife  is 
permitted  to  live  and  enjoy  as  much  comfort  as 
she  does ;  her  situation  is  an  instructive  one, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  designed  for  the  benefit  of 
her  family.  The  thought  of  you,  my  dear  child- 
ren, brings  to  my  mind  the  recollection  of  the 
days  of  ray  childhood,  when  I  dwelt  with  my 
brother  and  sisters,  the  children  of  a  widow ; 
preserved  by  an  unseen  hand,  perhaps  for  the 
sake  of  a  worthy  father  whose  ashes  lie  in  a  far 
distant  land. 


LETTERS   TO    HIS    WIFE.  95 

I  expect  to  take  leave  of  Ireland  on  second  or 
third-day  week,  return  to  England,  take  a  few 
meetings  on  my  way  to  London,  and  there  attend 
the  Yearly  Meeting  there.  My  services  in  this 
land  may  probably  wind  up  in  a  few  months, 
but  I  often  remember,  you  charged  me  not  to 
return  till  I  was  quite  easy  to  do  so. 

My  labours  have  been  abundant,  and  I  believe 
through  Divine  favour  have  been  well  received. 

I  have  Peter  Bedford,  of  London,  for  my 
companion ;  a  very  amiable  young  man.  Friends 
endeavour  to  make  everything  as  easy  as  pos- 
sible wherever  I  go. 

I  have  lost  an  old  friend  lately,  who  has  been 
with  me  through  all  my  conflicts,  more  than 
fifty  years,  and  never  has  refused  to  give  its  aid 
to  minister  to  my  comforts  when  called  upon, 
till  very  recently  it  has  withdrawn  its  friendly 
usefulness ;  and  another  one  of  similar  age  and 
benefit  does  at  times  refuse  to  perform  its 
friendly  attention  as  in  days  of  yore,  that  I 
expect  it  will  ere  long  retire  from  me  and  leave 
me  in  a  strange  land,  rather  destitute,  to  make 
my  way  with  difficulty. 

I  shall  inform  you  how  long  to  direct  to  me 
on  this  side  the  Atlantic,  and  am 

Very  affectionately  yours, 

Nathan  IltrNT. 


96  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

London,  5tb  mo.  27,  1821. 
Mj  endeared  Wife  ana  Children : 

I  received  Nathan's  precious  letter  dated  22d 
of  3d  mo.  Some  part  of  it  was  truly  affecting. 
My  dear  wife,  more  than  usually  afflicted  in 
body  and  mind,  excited  great  sympathy  and 
anxious  solicitude,  but  the  last  date  seemed  to 
give  a  little  hope  that  she  might  be  more  com- 
fortable, and  encouraged  the  belief  that  I  might 
again  be  permitted  to  enjoy  her  society,  as  in 
days  that  are  past,  when  the  candle  of  the  Lord 
shone  round  about  us.  The  marriage  of  my 
dear  daughter  is  another  very  interesting  sub- 
ject. 

I  greet  her  and  her  dear  partner  as  one,  and 
receive  them  together  as  my  children.  May 
the  God  and  Father  of  all  our  sure  mercies  be 
pleased  to  guide  them  in  their  setting  out  in 
life. 

I  arrived  in  this  great  city  a  w^eek  ago  yes- 
terday. In  the  Yearly  Select  Meeting  I  opened 
to  Friends  my  prospect  of  being  liberated  from 
labour  in  this  land  in  a  fev/  months.  Perhaps 
I  may  sail  in  the  8th  month. 

If  Nathan  should  be  in  Philadelphia  about 
the  latter  end  of  9th  month,  he  had  better  wait 
till  I  come. 


LETTERS    TO    HIS    WIFE.  97 

I  am  in  pretty  good  health,  and  have  reason 
to  say  the  Lord  is  good.  Way  has  been  made 
for  me  to  my  humbling  admiration. 

There  was  a  large  meeting  here  on  first  day 
evening ;  it  was  thought  not  less  than  two  thou- 
sand people.  I  opened  my  concern  with  the 
words  of  the  apostle :  "  Examine  yourselves, 
whether  ye  be  in  the  faith,"  &c.  A  solemn 
meeting. 

Love  flows  from  my  heart  to  every  member 
of  my  family. 

Yours,  in  the  Lord, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Philadelphia,  9th  mo.  24,  1821. 
My  dear  Wife  and  Children  : 

I  have  anxiously  hoped  I  should  get  a  letter 
here,  with  a  later  date  than  the  one  I  received 
at  New  York,  but  none  has  yet  come  to  hand ; 
I  suppose  owing  to  your  not  knowing  what  my 
procedure  might  be.  I  left  New  York  on 
second-day  and  got  to  Burlington  on  third-day, 
stopping  at  Rahway ;  and  fifth-day,  after  meet- 
ing, dear  Rowland  Jones  took  his  horse  and 
gig  and  brought  me  to  this  place,  where  friends 
received  me  with  great  expressions  of  joy.  I 
here  met  with  Jesse  Shelley,  who  gave  me  the  very 
7 


98         MEMOIR  or  NATHAN  HUNT. 

agreeable  iDformation  that  my  dearest  earthly 
tie  was  much  improved ;  which  was  cause  of 
thankfulness  to  my  heart,  and  a  hope  was  raised 
that  I  might  be  permitted  once  more  to  behold 
her.  It  was  trying  to  me  to  suppress  the  in- 
clination I  felt  to  go  with  Jesse  Shelley  in  the 
public  conveyance  yesterday  for  Carolina ;  but 
thought  I  should  scarcely  be  able  to  bear  the 
fatigue  of  it,  and  believe  it  will  be  best  for  me 
to  pursue  the  plan  I  mentioned  in  my  letter 
from  New  York  of  being  at  Petersburgh  the 
16th  of  next  month,  having  no  doubt  you  will 
be  fully  reconciled  to  it  if  we  should  be  per- 
mitted to  meet,  when  I  can  give  you  my  reasons 
for  so  doing. 

I  expect  to  go  this  week  to  Cheltenham  and 
Plymouth  ;  next  week  set  out  for  Baltimore 
and  Washington,  Richmond  and  Petersburgh, 
where  I  should  be  very  glad  to  meet  one  of  my 
sons,  if  they  can  leave  home  easily.  If  not, 
please  write  to  Ebenezer  Thomas,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  I  shall  find  some  way  to  get  home.  I 
have  not  enjoyed  better  health  for  many  years. 
Dear  love  to  all. 

Yours  in  the  Lord, 

Nathan  Hunt. 


LETTERS.  99 

In  a  letter  written  from  Virginia  a  few  days 
after  this,  he  says :  "I  am,  through  unmerited 
favour,  in  good  health ;  and  have  been  remark- 
ably so,  ever  since  I  left  England.  A  greater 
degree  of  quietude  and  serenity  of  mind  I 
never  experienced ;  that  I  rejoice  in  my  la- 
bours, amid  all  the  trials  that  attend  me." 

In  reference  to  this  period,  he  observes : 

"  In  1821,  I  reached  my  home  again,  hav- 
ing been  absent  eighteen  months ;  attended 
four  hundred  and  twenty-seven  meetings,  be- 
sides having  had  very  many  private  opportu- 
nities, and  travelled  about  fifteen  thousand 
miles.  Through  all  I  have  been  marvellously 
preserved,  and  can,  I  trust,  with  gratitude  ac- 
knowledge, that  goodness  and  mercy  have  fol- 
lowed me  all  the  days  of  my  life.  Praise  be 
unto  His  great  and  adorable  name  for  ever !  I 
feel  I  have  not  words  sufficient  to  express  my 
sense  of  his  protecting  care,  guarding  me  day 
and  night,  and  watching  over  me  on  every 
hand." 

For  some  years  after  his  return  from  Eng- 
land, our  beloved  friend  was  not  unfrequently 
engaged  in  religious  service  in  his  own  imme- 
diate vicinity;  and  in  1831  he  again  visited 
the  meetings  of  New  York,  New  England,  and 


100  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    UUNT. 

Pennsylvania.  Trials  of  various  kinds  were 
meted  out  to  him,  but  perhaps  none  came  so 
near  to  his  affectionate  heart,  as  the  loss  of  his 
excellent  and  dignified  wife.  To  her  he  was 
united  in  the  covenant  of  life  and  of  love,  and 
he  felt  the  bereavement  keenly ;  yet  the  lan- 
guage of  his  chastened  but  confiding  and  sub- 
missive spirit  seemed  to  be :  "  It  is  the  Lord ;" 
let  him  do  what  seemeth  him  good." 

Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.C,  4th  mo.  28,  1827. 
Dear  Nephew : 

I  believe  there  has  been  no  time,  since 
Friends  were  a  people  separate  from  all  other 
religious  denominations  of  professing  Chris- 
tians, in  which  it  was  more  needful  for  them 
to  keep  to  the  foundation  of  our  blessed  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  as  it  was  held  forth 
by  ancient  Friends ;  for  the  day  in  which  we 
live  is  a  time  of  outward  ease  and  speculation 
in  religious,  civil,  and  political  concerns ;  that 
amidst  this  whirlpool  of  worldly  agitation  it  is 
needful  to  keep  the  eye  single  to  the  unfoldings 
of  pure  wisdom,  that  we  may  be  favoured  to 
see  the  hidden  mystery  of  iniquity  in  its  ver- 
micular form.  I  desire  thou  and  thy  dear  wife 
may  be  encouraged  to  attend  to  every  religious 


LETTERS.  101 

duty  in  the  simplicity  and  purit}'  of  tlie  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

My  mind  was  much  turned  toward  you  in 
the  time  of  your  late  Yearly  Meeting,  with 
feeling  solicitude  that  Truth  might  triumph 
over  error,  and  the  followers  of  the  Lamb 
boldly  declare  on  whose  side  they  were.  They 
that  do  so  will  have  the  victory,  though  many 
may  be  their  sufferings  and  revilings  from  those 
that  are  not  willing  to  submit  their  necks  unto 
the  yoke  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  but  are  high- 
minded  and  heady,  and  no  way  to  them  like 
their  own ; — the  simple,  humble,  plain  plan  of 
salvation,  by  and  through  the  wisdom,  mercy, 
and  love  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ  does  not  suit 
their  tasty  palates  ;  therefore  no  marvel  if  they 
deny  the  Lord  that  bought  them,  if  they  are 
wroth  with  his  servants  and  make  war  against 
them. 

The  company  and  valuable  labours  of  our 
mutually  endeared  friends,  S.  B.  and  J.  C,  at 
our  late  Yearly  Meeting,  were  like  dew  on  the 
grass  and  showers  on  the  herbs.  Please  to  give 
mine  and  my  wife's  dear  love  to  them  and  their 
families. 

Will  my  dear  nephew  please  send  me  a  copy 


102  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

of  "  The  Essays  on  Christianity,"  published  by 
Thomas  Kite  ? 

Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  2d  mo.  5,  1832. 
My  very  dear  friends, and : 

Often,  very  often  has  my  mind  like  the 
mid  lightning  been  wafted  over  the  inter- 
vening space  between  us,  and  greeted  you  in 
the  celestial  bond  and  covenant  of  light  and 
(ove,  although  I  have  given  you  no  written 
testimonial  of  my  affectionate  remembrance  of 
you.  As  new-born  babes  may  you  sincerely  de- 
sire the  pure  milk  of  the  Word  of  Life,  that  you 
may  grow  thereby  to  the  proper  stature  and 
fulness  that  the  Lord  allots  you  to  attain  to  in 
his  church  militant. 

I  have  felt  much  on  thy  account,  beloved 

,  and  hope  the  darkness  is  past,  and  the 

true  light  now  shines  that  will  be  as  a  light  to 
thy  feet  and  as  a  lantern  to  thy  path.  Although 
thou  may  est  have  to  walk  through  the  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death,  thou  need  fear  no  evil ; 
for  the  rod  and  the  staff  of  the  Lord  will  sus- 
tain thee,  and  thou  shalt  be  as  a  polished  shaft 
in  his  quiver  that  shall  pierce  the  head  of  the 
great  leviathan,  the  monster  of  human  reason 
and  human  wisdom,  who  is  endeavouring  to  lay 


LETTERS.  103 

waste  the  atoning  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
the  blessed  plan  of  salvation  proposed  by  Him. 
It  is  a  dark  delusive  spirit ;  it  worketh  in  the 
secret  chambers  of  darkness  ;  in  the  mystery 
of  iniquity  it  lives.  I  have  often  remembered 
the  sweetness  and  solemnity  with  which  thou 
expressed  thy  joy  and  gratitude,  that  thy  eyes 
were  opened  to  see  the  awful  vortex  thou  hadst 
escaped.  I  have  no  doubt,  dear  child,  thou 
hast  had  close  trials  to  pass  through  since  that 
blessed  dawn  of  light  in  great  mercy  broke 
forth,  to  show  thee  the  horrible  pit  that  thou 
wast  verging  towards.  I  feel  a  great  desire  for 
thee,  that  thou  mayest  come  forth  as  the  pure 
gold  that  has  been  seven  times  tried  in  the  fire. 

And  dear ,  I  feel  no  less  solicitude  for 

thee  than  for  thy  precious  wife.  I  hope  thou  wilt 
suffer  the  axe  of  God's  eternal  power  to  be  laid 
to  the  root  of  every  tree  which  does  not  bring 
forth  the  fruits  of  holiness  to  the  Lord,  and  be 
willing  to  be  formed  into  just  such  a  vessel  as 
the  great  Potter  would  have  thee  to  be.  I 
know  thou  lovest  the  truth,  and  those  who 
thou  believest  walk  in  it.  May  you,  my  dear 
friends,  become  more  and  more  like  Mount 
Zion  which  can  never  be  removed,  but  abideth 
for  ever. 


104  MEMOIR    OP   NATHAN    HUNT. 

I  feel  greatly  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the 

people  of ,  and  especially  the  Society  of 

Friends ;  that  they  may  be  a  humble-hearted, 
consistent,  and  plain  people,  living  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord.  I  mourn  for  the  stars  who  have 
fallen  for  want  of  deep  indwelling  and  attend- 
ing to  the  secret  counsels  of  the  Most  High, 
which  would  have  preserved  them  "  as  chaste 
virgins  espoused  to  Christ." 

Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  9th  mo.  30,  1833. 
Bear  Nephew : 

Thou  and  thy  beloved  family  have  of  late 
time  been  frequently  brought  to  my  remem- 
brance, w^ith  feelings  of  affection  and  solici- 
tude for  your  safekeeping  and  preservation  in 
the  sacred  enclosure  of  that  Divine  Love,  which 
is  the  source  and  fountain  of  all  true  and  per- 
manent happiness,  and  keeps  the  mind  settled 
to  the  one  thing  needful ;  that  is,  to  make  suit- 
able preparation  for  an  eternal  state  of  being, 
and  have  treasure  laid  up  in  heaven  for  the  im- 
mortal soul  to  ascend  to,  when  it  drops  the 
dying  flesh.  My  beloved  nephew  and  niece,  I 
have  no  doubt  but  you  are  sensible  of  the  re- 
sponsible situation  in  which  you  are  placed,  as 
husband  and  wife,  and  as  parents  of  children ; 


LETTERS.  105 

who  need  your  united  efforts  to  bring  tliem  up 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and 
to  keep  them  as  much  as  possible  from  the  tinsel 
of  this  fading  and  uncertain  world,  which  has 
a  very  attracting  influence  over  the  minds  of 
the  dear  youth.  May  you  be  united  in  pure 
love,  under  Divine  direction,  to  discharge  this 
important  duty  in  that  wisdom  that  comes  down 
from  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  and  feels  our  infirmities,  and  will 
be  a  present  help  in  every  time  of  need  unto  all 
that  call  upon  Him,  out  of  a  pure  heart,  from 
a  sense  of  their  own  inability  to  do  any  good 
thing  without  the  help  of  his  Holy  Spirit  to 
guide  them  in  judgment;  and  it  is  only  the 
humble  that  he  teaches  of  His  ways,  and  the 
meek  that  He  guides  in  judgment.  I  desire  to 
encourage  you,  dear  children,  to  be  faithful 
helpmeets  to  one  another  in  all  the  trials  and 
afflictions  of  time,  and  to  move  on  through  the 
chequered  scenes  of  this  short  life,  hand  in  hand, 
bound  together  by  the  strong  cord  and  bands 
of  love.  There  is  but  one  safe  place  of  dwell- 
ing, and  that  is  in  Jerusalem ;  which  is  a  city 
compact  together,  whither  the  tribes  go  up,  the 
tribes  of  the  Lord  unto  the  testimonies  of  Israel, 
to  give  thanks  unto  the  name  of  the  Lord.     I 


106  MEMOIR   or    NATHAN    HUNT. 

crave  that  you  may  be  in  the  company  that 
maintain  these  testimonies.  There  is  great  need 
of  faithful  watchmen  on  the  walls  of  our  Zion 
in  this  day  of  great  supineness  and  departure 
from  the  simplicity  of  the  everlasting  Gospel 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ ;  and  this 
deviation  prevails  in  country,  town,  and  city  to 
an  alarming  extent ;  yet  I  hope  there  are  some 
that  have  the  white  stone  and  the  new  name 
that  is  written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life.  I 
want  to  encourage  all  hearts  and  all  hands  to 
press  towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high 
calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  Twenty-five 
days  more  will  end  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  my 
pilgrimage  in  this  state  of  uncertainty,  in  which 
I  have  seen  men  and  things  change ;  they  that 
were  flattering  to-day  almost  to  adulation,  to- 
morrow would  be  cold  and  insipid,  when  I  could 
form  no  idea  of  any  cause  for  such  a  change ; 
yet  I  have  great  cause  for  thankfulness  to  him 
that  seeth  in  secret,  he  hath  wonderfully  fulfilled 
his  gracious  promise — he  hath  given  me  fathers 
and  mothers,  brethren  and  sisters,  and  earthly 
accommodations  to  my  humbling  admiration ; 
and  after  all  my  travels  and  labours  I  have 
nothing  to  trust  in  but  the  mercies  of  the  Lord 
for  salvation,  and  can  truly  say  I  feel  myself  to 


LETTERS.  107 

be  an  unprofitable  servant,  not   having   done 
half  of  that  which  it  was  my  duty  to  do. 

The  past  summer  and  so  far  of  the  autumn 
have  been  unusually  warm  and  dry ;  the  heat 
has  been  often  very  oppressive  to  me,  and  pro- 
duced great  debility  that  I  have  not  been  able 
to  go  out  much,  though  I  have  had  a  few  large 
public  meetings  in  the  course  of  the  summer, 
and  attended  meetings  at  and  about  home  as 
they  came  in  course,  which  I  consider  a  great 
privilege,  and  feel  gratitude  and  thankfulness 
for  every  favour  both  spiritual  and  temporal. 

Your  affectionate  uncle, 
*  *  *  * 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Springfield,  2d  mo.  13,  1835. 

To  J.  and  H.  C.  B. : 

Deep  feelings  of  sympathy  are  awakened  in 
my  mind  at  every  turn  of  thought  on  your  long- 
protracted  and  arduous  engagement  in  the  most 
exalted  and  noble  of  all  causes  which  human 
creatures  can  be  engaged  in,  even  that  of  win- 
ning souls  unto  God — in  comparison  of  which, 
all  other  things  sink  into  insignificance;  and 
from  the  near  unity  I  have  felt  with  your  move- 
ments, I  believe  there  is  no  cause  for  discour- 
agement.    It  is  a  blessed  thing  to  be  in  a  state 


108  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

of  humble  resignation  to  the  mind  and  will  of 
our  gracious  Master,  and  to  keep  the  word  of 
His  patience,  under  the  influence  of  that  faith 
which  has  been  the  support  of  the  Lord's  ser- 
vants in  every  age  of  the  world.  As  to  the 
Southern  prospect,  I  incline  to  believe  it  will 
be  best  for  you  to  attend  to  it.  Do  one  thing 
at  a  time,  and  when  that  is  done,  set  up  the 
staff  and  see  which  way  it  leans  and  carefully 
follow  it,  whether  it  inclines  to  the  east,  the 
west,  the  north,  or  the  south.  It  seems  to  me, 
if  you  remain  a  little  longer,  though  it  may  be 
in  weeping,  you  will  sow  much  precious  seed. 
Your  latter  labours  will  be  blest  to  many,  bound 
up  among  the  sheaves  which  you  have  gathered 
in  this  land,  and  you,  my  beloved  friends,  will 
return  in  peace  to  your  dear  connexions,  saying 
"  Bless  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul,  and  all  that  is 
within  me,  bless  His  holy  name." 

11th  mo.,  1835. 
To  E.  P.  K. : 

I  received  thy  truly  acceptable  letter  of  last 
month,  and  also  a  cordially  grateful  one  of  earlier 
date,  from  Tennessee,  which  caused  my  mind  to 
be  dipped  into  near  sympathy  with  you  in  your 
mountainous  journey,  in  heights  and  in  depths. 


LETTERS.  109 

sometimes  cast  down,  but  not  destroyed.  It 
seemed  as  if  my  spirit  went  with  you  from  place 
to  place  ;  that  the  Eternal  God  was  your  refuge, 
and  underneath  were  the  Everlasting  Arms. 

I  expected  dear  H.  C.  B.  would  be  released 
from  farther  labour  on  our  shores  when  Ohio 
Yearly  Meeting  was  over,  and  I  feel  my  spirit  re- 
joice as  I  w'rite,  that  she  has  been  mercifully  and 
wonderfully  preserved  through  such  a  long  and 
perilous  journey,  and  leaves  as  with  that  peace 
which  passeth  all  understanding.  I  believe  she 
has  done  much  towards  removing  the  prejudices 
of  the  people  respecting  the  principles  of  our 
society,  and  in  encouraging  Friends  in  their 
religious  duties — perhaps  none  more  so;  for 
thou  very  well  knowest  her  devotion  to,  and 
zeal  for  the  cause  of  Truth;  that  no  difficulty 
which  presented,  however  formidable,  could  pre- 
vent her  from  attending  to  apprehended  duty ; 
her  life,  her  all  seemed  to  be  given  up  to  spend 
and  to  be  spent  for  the  sake  of  precious  souls. 

Thou  inquirest  about  our  little  H.  B.  Hunt. 
She  is  a  very  interesting  little  girl,  with  an  ex- 
pressive countenance.  I  often  pray  that  the 
Lord  may  bless  the  child,  and  that  a  double 
portion  of  the  spirit  of  the  dear  Friend  for  whom 
she  was  named  may  rest  upon  her. 


110        MEMOIR  OE  NATHAN  HUNT. 

Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  1st  mo.  27,  1837. 
Dear  Friend,  G.  H. : 

Thy  truly  acceptable  favour  of  the  7th  inst 
came  safely  to  hand  on  the  25th.  It  breathed 
so  much  of  the  spirit  and  feeling  of  the  heart 
of  the  writer  that  it  touched  the  inmost  feelings 
of  my  soul  with  gratitude  and  thankfulness  to 
the  Lord,  and  tears  trickled  down  my  wayworn 
cheeks  like  falling  rain,  and  I  could  say  with 
David,  "  Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me  in 
the  presence  of  mine  enemies,  thou  anointest 
my  head  with  oil,  my  cup  runneth  over,  surely 
goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the  days 
of  my  life,"  and  by  His  holy  permission  ^'  I 
will  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever." 
'>  The  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  fulness  there- 
of, the  world,  and  they  that  dwell  therein ;  for 
he  hath  founded  it  upon  the  seas,  and  establish- 
ed it  upon  the  floods.  Who  shall  ascend  into 
the  hill  of  the  Lord,  and  who  shall  stand  in  his 
holy  place  ?  He  that  hath  clean  hands  and  a 
pure  heart."  What  a  marvellous  lesson  of  in- 
struction is  here  brought  to  our  view  of  the 
wondrous  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his  regard 
unto  his  humble  creatures  who  have  clean  hands 
and  pure  hearts,  whose  eyes  are  unto  him  as 
the  eye  of  the  servant  is  unto  his  master,  and 


LETTERS.  Ill 

the  eye  of  the  maid  unto  her  mistress  ?  These 
shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the  Lord,  and  stand 
in  his  holy  place.  How  sublime  the  allusion  to 
the  seas  and  the  floods,  calculated  to  draw  the 
attention  of  thy  mind  in  a  peculiar  manner,  as 
thou  gatherest  thy  earthly  treasure  from  them, 
by  the  favour  and  blessing  of  Him  who  appear- 
ed to  Moses  in  a  flame  of  fire  in  the  bush,  and 
instructed  him  w^hat  he  must  do ;  but  Moses 
scarcely  could  believe  he  was  prepared  for  such 
a  service.  He  felt  his  extreme  littleness,  and 
fain  would  have  put  it  on  another.  But  he  was 
the  man  called  upon  to  do  the  business,  and  no 
other  could  take  his  place.  So  it  is  with  every 
one  of  us ;  we  have  our  place  and  labour  as- 
signed to  us  by  the  great  Head  of  the  Church, 
and  no  other  can  do  it  for  us.  Now,  my  dear 
G.  and  S.,  it  presents  to  my  mind  to  mention 
to  you  some  of  the  language  of  the  Spirit  to 
the  Church  of  Philadelphia :  "I  know  thy 
works;  behold,  I  have  set  before  thee  an  open 
door,  and  no  man  can  shut  it,  for  thou  hast  a 
little  strength,  and  hast  kept  my  word,  and 
hast  not  denied  my  name."  0,  my  dear  friends, 
you  have  a  little  strength,  and  have  not  denied 
the  name  of  Jesus  in  perilous  times,  if  you  will 
be  faithful,  in  the  further  language  of  the  Spirit 


112  ME3I0IR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

he  will  sustain  you  under  the  temptations  and 
afflictions  of  time.  ^'  Because  thou  hast  kept 
the  word  of  mj  patience,  I  also  will  keep  thee 
from  the  hour  of  temptation,  which  shall  come 
upon  all  the  world,  to  try  them  that  dwell  upon 
the  earth."  Words  cannot  express  the  near- 
ness of  feeling  and  sympathy  with  and  for  you, 
that  I  experienced  in  reading  thy  letter.  It 
seemed  as  if  I  was  present  with  you,  drinking 
of  the  same  cup,  and  mingling  in  your  feelings 
and  fears,  beholding  the  trials  that  surround 
you,  and  the  temptations  that  beset  you.  This 
cementing  together  in  the  celestial  bond  and 
covenant  of  light  and  life  is  more  to  me  than 
gold  or  silver,  or  aught  else  that  this  world  can 
give ;  and  yet  these  things,  under  proper  regu- 
lations, kept  as  the  moon  under  foot,  are  great 
blessings. 

I  do  assure  thee,  my  dear  friend,  thy  kind 
donation  to  our  boarding-school  concern  was  a 
very  cheering  thing.  My  son,  Thomas  T.  Hunt, 
one  of  the  committee,  was  sitting  near  me  when 
I  read  thy  letter.  He  burst  into  tears,  and 
said,  he  never  had  been  more  discouraged  about 
it  than  he  had  been  that  morning;  it  really 
seemed  like  the  light  of  heaven  shining  on  the 
concern.     I  have   no   doubt  it  will  have  like 


LETTERS.  113 

effect  on  all  the  committee,  and  many  other 
,^J!|:ie»ds/  And  truly,  thy  kind  attention  to  me 
is  exceedingly  grateful. 

Very  affectionately, 

Nathan  Hunt. 


TO  E.  p.  K. 

lOth  mo.  7,  1836. 

I  have  often  thought  of  replying  to  thy  last 
very  acceptable  letter,  but  the  ability  seemed 
so  small  for  the  performance  of  it,  that  I  have 
put  it  off  from  time  to  time,  hoping  I  might 
feel  a  little  more  strength ;  but  as  age  and  in- 
firmity are  daily  increasing  upon  me,  I  have 
concluded  to  delay  no  longer,  having  desired 
exceedingly  to  hear  from  thee  again,  and  of 
thy  prosperity  in  all  things  that  relate  to  thy 
growth  and  advancement  in  that  path  of  duty 
intended  for  thee  by  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church,  when  he  laid  his  holy  hand  upon  thee 
to  pluck  thee  as  a  brand  from  the  burning,  that 
thou  mightest  become  perfect  in  beauty,  and  as 
a  polished  shaft  in  his  quiver. 

My  mind  has  been  frequently  led  into  deep 
sympathy  with  the  travailing  seed  everywhere. 
It  sometimes  seems  to  be  drawn  into  all  parts 
of  the  habitable    earth,   where  the   sons   and 


114  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

daughters  of  men  dwell ;  and  here  and  there  I 
find  a  little  seed  struggling  for  relief,  and  my 
soul  is  nearly  united  to  it  in  the  bond  and  cove- 
nant of  everlasting  love.  I  feel  almost  daily 
more  alive  to  the  sufferings  of  humanity  and 
the  groans  of  the  oppressed,  accompanied  with 
the  persuasion  that  a  great  work  is  on  the 
wheel,  and  that  clianges  will  be  brought  about, 
altogether  out  of  the  reach  of  human  control, 
both  in  Church  and  State. 

Words  come  far  short  of  expressing  the  con- 
cern I  feel  for  our  own  Society — that  Friends 
may  be  preserved  in  the  meekness  of  wisdom, 
under  the  direction  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth^  the 
ancient  Rock  and  Foundation  of  this  people. 


TO 


4th  mo.  12,  1838. 

Thy  last,  my  very  dear  ,  is  grateful  to 

my  best  feelings,  believing,  from  its  contents, 
thou  art  in  health  of  body  and  mind. 

The  accounts  I  have  received  of  my  dear 
and  well-beloved  J.  J.  G.,  are  comforting  to  my 
heart.  It  did  me  good  to  hear  of  T.  Wistar, 
and  E.  Yarnall,  and  J.  W.  Morris,  and  T. 
Stewardson,  men  to  whom  my  soul  is  nearly 


LETTERS.  115 

united  in  the  fellowship  of  the  Gospel,  gather- 
ing round  and  uniting  with  him  in  spirit,  like 
Aaron  and  Hur,  bearing  up  the  hands  of 
Moses  in  a  great  struggle  for  victory,  and 
Moses  had  to  sit  on  the  hard  stone  till  it 
was  obtained.  But  though  the  conflict  may  be 
long  and  sore,  it  cannot  be  doubtful  to  the  well- 
disciplined  and  courageous  soldiers  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  because  the  encouraging  promise 
is,  the  Lamb  and  his  followers  shall  have  the 
victory.  I  have  never  known  a  brother  or  fel- 
low-labourer in  the  glorious  Gospel  of  Christ 
with  whom  I  could  more  feelingly  unite  in  the 
Sowings  forth  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  both  in  testi- 
mony and  in  prayer.  His  visit  to  our  late 
Yearly  Meeting  has  left  on  many  of  our  spirits 
thankfulness  and  gratitude  of  heart  to  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church  for  sending  the  full  cloud, 
and  causing  it  to  come  down  upon  us  as  the 
rain,  and  distil  as  the  dew,  as  the  small  rain 
upon  the  tender  herb,  and  as  the  showers  upon 
the  grass ;  because  "  he  published  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  ascribing  greatness  unto  our  God." 
I  have  not  the  smallest  doubt  of  his  being  'per- 
fectly sound  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  of 
our  holy  Redeemer,  but  his  capacious  mind 
takes  such  an  extensive  range  that  an  ordinary 
mind  cannot  easily  follow  him.     The  doctrine 


116  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

of  the  resurrection  is  very  precious  to  me,  and 
I  believe  in  it  according  to  the  Scripture.  I 
very  much  unite  with  J.  J.  G.'s  view  of  the 
Scriptures  having  a  literal  as  well  as  spiritual 
meaning,  and  rightly  to  understand  them  is  a 
great  attainment.  There  certainly  is  nothing 
can  unfold  them  to  us  but  the  key  of  David.  I 
believe  the  Lord  will  give  each  soul  a  body  such 
as  pleases  him,  and  when  it  pleases  him,  and 
there  think  best  to  leave  it. 

Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  5th  mo.  25,  1838. 
My  dear  friend,  G.  H. : 

Our  boarding-school  seems  to  be  going  on 
quite  agreeably,  and  our  teachers,  we  think, 
understand  their  business  well.  J.  S.'s  health 
has  been  delicate  for  some  time  past.  He  has 
some  prospect  of  leaving  us  about  the  first  of 
the  8th  month.  I  know  not  how  we  shall  do 
without  him ;  he  is  peculiarly  qualified  to  ma- 
nage such  an  institution.  But  He  that  has  pro- 
vided for  us  hitherto,  I  trust,  will  continue  to 
provide. 

The  time  of  your  Yearly  Meeting  is  now  ap- 
proaching. How  I  should  love  to  be  with  you ! 
but  age  and  infirmity  forbid  it.  I  hope  my 
dear  and  well-beloved  friend,  Joseph  John  Gur- 


LETTERS.  117 

ney,  will  be  with  you.  I  believe  him  to  be  one 
of  the  meekest,  most  humble-spirited,  and  de- 
voted followers  of  Jesus  in  our  Society,  and 
calculated  to  do  the  greatest  amount  of  good. 
I  have  seen  no  man  with  whom  my  soul  was 
more  nearly  united  in  the  fellowship  of  the 
Gospel.  If  he  comes  to  New  Bedford,  receive 
him  as  my  poor  self.  I  greatly  desire  that  thou 
and  thy  dear  wife  may  find  it  to  be  in  the  way 
of  your  duty  to  be  with  us  at  our  next  Yearly 
Meeting,  and  begin,  on  the  receipt  of  this  let- 
ter, to  make  arrangements  to  accomplish  the 
desirable  object.  My  deep  solicitude  for  thee 
and  thine  is  as  vigorous  as  ever,  and  prayer 
often  ascends  from  the  altar  of  my  old  and 
feeble  heart  that  the  Divine  presence  may  en- 
camp round  about  you,  and  preserve  you  from 
ever  making  one  step  out  of  the  way  to  His 
house,  and  also  guard  the  outgoings  and  incom- 
ings of  your  worldly  interest,  both  on  sea  and 
land,  that  it  may  be  a  blessing,  under  Divine 
direction,  to  you  and  many  others. 

My  general  health  is  quite  good,  for  my  age. 
My  dear  children  and  friends  are  in  usual 
health.  Dugan  and  Asenath  Clark  were  at  our 
meeting  last  first-day.  I  thought  I  never  heard 
her  more  favoured  than  she  was  in  testimony 


118  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT 

and  supplication.  Please  to  excuse  bad  writing, 
and  everything  incorrect  in  this  letter.  I  have 
been  so  unwell  for  several  days  past  that  I  am 
scarcely  able  to  write. 

My  dear  love  to  you  all,  and  to  friends  gene- 
rally, as  opportunity  offers.  Please  let  me  hear 
from  thee  when  convenient. 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  2d  mo.  1,  1839. 
My  dearly  beloved  friend,  G.  H. : 

*  *  *  *  I  think  it  is  due  to  thee  to 
have  this  particular  information  respecting  the 
management  of  it,  as  thou  hast  manifested  such 
a  deep  interest  for  the  prosperity  of  our  beloved 
infant  institution  by  thy  works  of  charity  and 
love,  and  in  the  alms-deeds  thou  hast  done ; 
for  which  methinks  I  see  the  dew  of  Heaven 
distilling  on  thee  and  thy  beloved  family — 
moistening  the  soil  of  the  contrite  heart,  and 
preparing  it  to  gather  and  receive  the  glorious 
harvest  of  immortality  and  eternal  life  in  that 
broad  stream,  wherein  shall  go  no  galley  with 
oars,  neither  shall  gallant  ship  pass  thereby. 
The  desire  I  feel  for  your  prosperity  in  the 
pure  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  still 
continues  without  any  abatement  in  prayer  and 


LETTEllS.  119 

supplication  that  the  Lord  may  be  pleased  to 
keep  you  in  the  midst  of  his  pavilion ;  that  his 
multiplied  temporal  blessings  may  never  ob- 
scure in  the  least  degree  the  bright  shining  of 
his  holy  spirit  in  your  precious  souls  ;  that  no- 
thing may  induce  him  to  withdraw  his  guardian 
care  from  hovering  round  you — and  as  the  eye 
of  the  servant  is  unto  the  hand  of  his  master, 
and  the  eye  of  the  maiden  unto  the  hand  of  her 
mistress,  so  let  your  eyes  be  unto  the  Lord  in 
all  things.  Never  let  it  be  said  of  you,  as  it 
was  of  Tyrus  :  "  Thou  wast  upon  the  holy 
mountain  of  God,  thou  hast  walked  up  and 
down  in  the  midst  of  the  stones  of  fire ;  thou 
wast  perfect  in  thy  ways  from  the  day  thou 
wast  created,  till  iniquity  was  found  in  thee." 
0,  my  dear  friends,  that  the  multitude  of  your 
merchandise  may  never  be  the  cause  of  ini- 
quity being  found  in  you,  but  the  more  your 
earthly  treasure  is  increased  so  much  the  more 
let  your  minds  be  humbled  and  concerned  to 
be  simple,  plain,  and  consistent  members  of 
the  church  of  a  crucified  Lord ;  remembering 
that  you  are  only  stewards  over  that  which  be- 
longs to  Another,  to  whom  you  must  give  an 
account  of  what  disposition  you  have  made  of  it. 
I  have  sometimes  fancied  I  could  see  your 


120  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

gallant  ships  sailing  to  the  South  Seas,  gather- 
ing their  freight  and  returning  richly  laden 
and  coming  to  anchor  in  New  Bedford  harbour 
under  the  care  of  some  guardian  angel.  And 
to  crown  all,  it  seemed  as  if  I  could  see  thee, 
my  very  dear  G.,  going  on  board  with  a  hum- 
ble heart  and  thoughtful  mind  to  receive  the 
rich  treasures  of  the  seas,  which  the  Lord  hath 
sent  thee  ;  not  altogether  for  thyself,  but  for 
the  comfort  of  many  from  w^hom  those  plenti- 
ful supplies  have  been  withheld ;  that  when  the 
ear  heard  thee  it  might  bless  thee,  and  when 
the  eye  saw  thee  it  might  give  witness  to  thee 
— thus  we  may  justly  say  with  the  prophet: 
"Verily  thou  art  a  God  that  hidest  thyself, 
thou  God  of  Israel,  the  Saviour."  I  have,  my 
beloved  friend,  written  these  things  which  I 
had  no  thought  of  when  I  sat  down ;  it  feels 
to  me  that  they  will  be  pleasant  to  thee,  and 
that  thou  wilt  receive  them  in  the  love  in  which 
they  are  written. 

I  intended  writing  to  thee  soon  after  our 
Yearly  Meeting,  but  Nathan  Mendenhall,  the 
clerk,  was  requested  to  write  and  inform  thee 
that  thy  kind  and  valuable  donation  was  re- 
ceived by  the  Meeting  with  that  due  respect 
and  gratitude  that  the  occasion  required ;  and 
I  hope  he  has  done  it  in  a  suitable  manner. 


LETTERS.  121 

I  am,  through  the  mercies  of  Him  who  loved 
us  and  gave  himself  for  us,  in  pretty  good 
health ;  able  to  attend  meetings  nearly  all  the 
time,  and  have  attended  several  Quarterly/ 
Meetings  since  our  Yearly  Meeting  to  my  com- 
fort and  satisfaction.  Our  late  Yearly  Meet- 
ing was  a  time  of  as  much  precious  favour  as 
we  have  had  in  any  former  years,  though  we 
had  no  Friends  from  a  distance  with  us. 

It  is  my  serious  judgment  that  Friends  can- 
not safely  join  in  the  popular  doings  of  the  ultra 
Abolitionists,  but  do  all  they  can  in  their  own 
simple  way. 

I  am  getting  along  in  my  temporal  business 
as  usual.  The  competition  is  such  that  the  profit 
on  sales  is  small ;  but  we  are  doing  pretty  com- 
fortably, and  I  am  truly  thankful  for  every 
blessing  that  the  Lord  is  pleased  to  furnish  me 
with — and  I  live  happily  because  I  trust  in  the 
Lord  for  everything,  and  know  he  will  do  all 
for  the  best.  Please  write,  my  beloved  friend, 
as  soon  as  thou  feelest  ready  after  getting  this. 

In  near  and  dear  love  to  thee  and  thy  pre- 
cious wife  and  your  children,  I  remain  un- 
changeably, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

Nathan  Hunt. 


122  MEMOIR   OF    NATUAN    HUNT. 

TO   THE   YEARLY  MEETING   NOW   SITTING. 

Newgarden  School,  11th  mo,  7,  1839. 
Dear  Friends : 

Brothers  and  sisters,  I  apprehend  there  have 
been  through  the  various  sittings  of  the  Meet- 
ing many  wistful  lookings  towards  a  certain 
place  in  the  upper  seat,  near  the  clerk's  right 
hand.  The  former  occupant  is  not  there,  and 
probably  never  will  be  again ;  he  has  a  com- 
fortable hope,  there  is  a  mansion  prepared  for 
him  in  the  house  eternal  in  the  heavens,  where 
he  hopes  to  meet  many  of  you.  I  have  been 
much  with  you  in  spirit.  Dear  friends,  through 
the  several  sittings  of  the  Meeting,  especially 
on  third-day,  with  the  readers  and  labourers 
when  the  state  of  society  was  before  you,  it 
seemed  as  though  I  saw  the  pure  stream  of  the 
water  of  life,  clear  as  crystal,  proceeding  out 
of  the  throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb,  flowing 
like  pure  oil  to  the  nethermost  skirts  of  the 
company — and  many  dear  creatures,  old  and 
young,  drinking  it  as  it  passed  ;  yet  there  ap- 
peared to  be  others  indifferent  and  let  it  pass 
on  without  partaking  of  it — whilst  they  who 
do  receive  it  will  revive  as  the  corn,  grow  as 
the  vine,  and  their  scent  will  be  as  the  wine  of 
Lebanon. 


LETTERS.  123 

I  think  I  have  seen  that  Zion  will  be  redeem- 
ed through  judgments,  and  her  converts  through 
righteousness  ;  and  that  the  Lord  will  turn  his 
hand  upon  his  people  in  this  part  of  his  vine- 
yard, and  purely  purge  away  all  their  dross 
and  take  away  all  their  tin,  and  restore  judges 
as  at  the  first  and  councillors  as  at  the  be- 
ginning ;  and  the  language  will  be  to  them, 
Where  have  they  been?  and  her  young  men  and 
maidens  will  flow  to  the  standard  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  ;  for  when  Zion  travailed  she  brought 
forth  children,  it  seems  to  me  the  language 
may  be  adopted,  Who  hath  heard  such  things, 
who  hath  seen  such  things  ?  Shall  the  earth  be 
made  to  bring  forth  in  one  day,  or  shall  a 
nation  be  born  at  once ;  for  as  soon  as  Zion 
travailed,  she  brought  forth  her  children  ? 
Shall  I  bring  to  the  birth  and  not  cause  to 
bring  forth  ?  saith  the  Lord  ;  shall  I  cause  to 
bring  forth  and  shut  the  womb  ?  saith  thy  God. 
Rejoice  ye  with  Jerusalem,  and  be  glad  with 
her  all  ye  that  love  her  ;  rejoice  for  joy  all  ye 
that  mourn  for  her — that  you  may  suck  and  be 
satisfied  with  the  breasts  of  her  consolation ; 
that  you  may  milk  out  and  be  delighted  with 
the  abundance  of  her  glory.  For  thus  saith  the 
Lord :  I  will  extend  peace  to  her  like  a  river, 


124  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

and  the  glory  of  the  Gentiles  like  a  flowing 
stream.  Then  shall  you  suck ;  ye  shall  be 
born,  and  shall  be  dandled  upon  her  knees  as 
one  whom  his  mother  comforteth;  so  will  I 
comfort  you,  and  ye  shall  be  comforted  in 
Jerusalem.  And  when  you  see  this  your  hearts 
shall  rejoice,  and  your  bones  shall  flourish  like 
an  herb  ;  and  the  hand  of  the  Lord  shall  be 
known  towards  his  servants,  and  his  indigna- 
tion towards  his  enemies — for  I  believe  after 
much  tribulation,  the  corn  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  will  make  the  young  men  cheerful,  and 
new  wine  the  maids. 

So  I  conclude  m}^  little  communication  with 
feelings  of  near  sympathy  and  unity  with  the 
travailing  seed  and  mourners  in  Zion ;  and 
bid  you  farewell  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting 

Gospel. 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

Nathan  Hunt,  Sr. 
"Who  is  often  brought  to  the  acknowledg- 
ment that  he  is  an  unprofitable  servant,  that 
hath  not  done  half  of  his  duty  to  his  Lord  and 
Master.  My  mind  is  often  drawn  into  near 
and  feeling  sympathy  with  the  messengers  of 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  everlasting  Gospel  to 


LETTERS.  125 

a  guilty  world,  desiring  their  encouragement 
under  the  comforting  assurance,  that  although 
they  have  gone  forth  weeping,  they  shall  come 
again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  their  sheaves 
with  them. 

Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  4th  mo.  9,  1840. 
To  E.  P.  K. : 

To  find  I  was  retained  in  such  near  sympathy 
and  affectionate  remembrance  by  thee  my  dear 
E.,  after  the  lapse  of  so  many  days,  was  like 
the  rain  that  rains  in  summer  after  a  scorching 
drought.  Many  changing  scenes  have  passed 
since  we  had  a  personal  interview,  yet  the  recol- 
lection of  the  pleasant  hours  and  precious  op- 
portunities we  have  been  partakers  of  together, 
with  our  mutually  beloved  friends  J.  and  H.  C. 
B.,  appears  to  be  indelibly  engraven  on  thy 
mind ;  hours  wherein  the  heavenly  dew  distilled 
upon  us,  and  we  experienced  a  drinking  into  the 
same  spirit,  a  partaking  of  the  waters  of  that 
river  that  maketh  glad  the  whole  heritage  of 
God.  These  were  indeed  times  of  refreshment 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  to  prepare  the 
poor  tried  mind  for  future  necessary  baptisms, 
to  make  the  immortal  spirit  meet  for  a  mansion 
in  the  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in 


126  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

the  heavens,  where  the  enemy  will  cease  to 
trouble,  and  the  weary  soul  will  be  for  ever  at 
rest. 

Thou  seemest  to  have  been  led  into  remark- 
able sympathy  with  me,  dear  E.,  in  the  time 
of  my  illness,  and  as  thou  requestest  particular 
information  respecting  it,  it  is  only  a  reasonable 
duty  to  endeavour  to  furnish  it.  I  was  taken 
the  last  of  10th  month,  with  what  the  doctors 
call  a  congestive  state  of  the  body,  the  blood 
not  circulating  properly,  which  occasioned  great 
numbness  in  my  limbs,  so  that  all  present 
thought  I  would  die,  but  I  did  not  think  the 
time  was  come.  I  felt  exceedingly  sweet  and 
comfortable,  so  that  I  could  not  forbear  praising 
the  Lord,  and  through  His  mercy,  I  revived  so 
much,  that  on  first-day  I  went  to  New  Garden, 
and  was  taken  into  a  chamber  in  the  school- 
house  where  I  remained  throughout  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  full  of  love  to  everybody — hundreds 
of  people  came  in  to  see  me,  and  many  of  them 
left  the  chamber  with  tears  streaming  from  their 
eyes.  Dear  Stephen  Grellet  and  John  Elliot 
could  tell  thee  more  than  I  can  write — they 
were  very  acceptably  with  us.  My  limbs  still 
feel  numb,  and  I  know  not  what  may  be  the 
issue,  but  desire  to  be  wholly  resigned  to  the 


LETTERS.  127 

will  of  my  Heavenly  Father  in  all  things,  and 
to  be  enabled  to  give  Him  thanks  for  all  His 
dispensations  to  me.  I  know  it  is  of  His  un- 
merited mercy  that  I  am  in  the  land  of  the 
living.  Thy  soothing  expressions  were  truly 
grateful  to  my  feelings,  when  thou  sayest,  "  I 
do  assuredly  believe,  that  the  God  of  all  true 
consolation  is  near  to  help  and  to  sustain  thee, 
bidding  thee  lean  upon  His  staflF  of  love  and 
power,  and  causing  thee  to  rest  at  seasons  beside 
the  still  waters  of  life." 

This  was  strikingly  my  happy  experience  for 
some  weeks  after  the  first  attack — all  still  and 
quiet,  and  as  Samuel  Bownas  says,  the  presence 
of  my  Heavenly  Father  was  with  me  night  and 
day.  My  heart  was  full  of  love  !  There  were 
times  of  great  pressure  about  my  heart,  and 
difficulty  of  breathing,  so  that  it  seemed  as  if  I 
could  not  live  a  moment,  and  there  appeared  to 
be  nothing  in  my  way.  The  calmness  and 
sweetness  I  then  felt  could  not  be  expressed, 
but  He  who  knoweth  best  what  is  best  for  us, 
in  His  inscrutable  wisdom  saw  meet  to  change 
the  scene  from  this  state  of  joy  and  consolation 
to  one  inexpressibly  awful.  He  set  all  my  sins 
in  order  before  me,  from  the  days  of  my  youth 
until  that  time,  and,  blessed  be  His  holy  name, 


128  MEMOTR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

He  showed  me  the  deceit,  corruption,  and  vile- 
ness  of  my  own  heart,  and  how  the  pure  seed 
of  life  is  borne  down  under  the  wickedness  of 
the  world,  as  a  cart  laden  with  sheaves.  There 
were  days  and  nights  in  which  it  appeared  to 
me  as  if  I  felt  the  awful  situation  of  those  poor 
souls  that  are  separated  from  the  Divine  har- 
mony^  placed  on  the  left  hand,  going  aivay  into 
everlasting  lounishment,  and  I  scarcely  dared  to 
hope  but  that  I  must  be  one  of  the  number. 
It  seemed  as  if  I  could  almost  hear  the  dreadful 
sound,  "  G-o,  ye  cursed^''  when  there  was  nobody 
in  the  room ;  and  in  the  night  I  was  on  my 
knees,  and  with  my  mouth  on  the  floor  in 
prayer  and  supplication  ;  but  the  earth  was  like 
iron,  and  the  heavens  were  like  brass — there 
seemed  to  be  no  entrance,  and  I  felt  as  Jonah 
did,  when  he  cried,  "  Thou  hast  cast  me  into 
the  deep,  in  the  midst  of  the  seas,  and  the  floods 
compass  me  about,  all  thy  billows  and  thy  waves 
pass  over  me."  Then  I  said,  I  am  cast  out  of 
thy  sight,  yet  will  I  look  again  towards  thy  holy 
temple.  I  went  down  to  the  bottom  of  the 
mountains,  the  earth  with  her  bars  was  about 
me  for  ever,  and  I  could  say  with  Job,  "  I  went 
forward,  but  He  was  not  there,  and  backward, 
but  I  could  not  perceive  him."     Truly,  my  dear 


LETTERS.  129 

friend,  thy  expressions  are  remarkable  and 
strictly  applicable  to  me,  ■when  thou  sayest,  "  I 
have  also  thought  it  not  improbable  that  in  his 
infinite  and  inscrutable  wisdom  He  may  see  meet 
to  administer  yet  closer  conflicts  and  yet  deeper 
baptisms  than  thou  hast  ever  known,  proving 
thy  faith  and  patience  to  the  very  uttermost." 
There  are  no  babes  in  Christ  but  what  are  per- 
mitted to  express  any  impression  that  is  made  on 
their  minds  to  me,  respecting  anything  they  feel 
on  my  account.  The  all-important  subject  which 
thou  now  bringest  to  view  of  the  blessed  Pattern, 
was  almost  incessantly  before  me  ;  His  agony 
on  the  cross,  and  his  solemn  cry,  "My  God, 
my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?"  sounding 
in  my  ears,  and  I  believe  I  never  before  saw  so 
clearly  the  necessity  of  dying  on  the  cross  to 
all  human  doings — that  if  we  would  reign  with 
Christ,  we  must  also  suffer  with  him ;  surely  it 
is  enough  for  the  unworthy  servant  to  be  as  his 
dear  Lord.  There  has  been  a  little  grain  of 
faith  through  all  this  deep  conflict ;  and  oh,  saith 
my  soul,  that  the  promise  to  those  that  overcome, 
to  which  thou  alludest  in  thy  concluding  lines, 
may  indeed  be  fulfilled  in  my  experience :  Rev. 
iii.  12.  The  clear  evidence  that  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  was  with  thee  in  writing  that  letter. 


130  MEMOIR    or    NATHAN    HUNT. 

has  induced  me  to  give  thee  the  preceding  ac- 
count, which  I  never  expected  to  mention  to 
any  one.  My  mind  has  often  been  affection- 
ately turned  towards  thee^  dear  child,  for  thou 
feelest  like  a  daughter  to  me ;  believing  thou 
often  walkest  alone,  and  strewest  thy  tears  in 
secret  places,  it  is  in  my  heart  to  say  to  thee, 
dear  E.,  '-' Iwld  on  thy  loay^'  for  I  assuredly 
believe  thou  wilt  be  one  of  that  great  multitude 
which  no  man  could  number,  that  came  out  of 
great  tribulation,  and  washed  their  robes  and 
made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
Therefore  are  they  before  the  throne  of  God, 
and  serve  him  day  and  night  in  His  temple — 
they  shall  hunger  no  more,  &c.  I  feel  a  comfort- 
able hope  that  through  Divine  mercy  I  also 
shall  be  one  of  this  blessed  number,  and  that 
when  the  afflictions  of  time  are  passed,  we  shall 
walk  together  in  white — tears  come  at  the  sweet 
thought.  May  the  Eternal  God  be  thy  refuge 
and  underneath  the  everlasting  arms. 

There  is  no  diminution  in  my  near  love,  unity, 
and  sympathy  with  dear  J.  J.  G.  in  his  ardu- 
ous engagement.  The  night  before  I  received 
thy  most  welcome  letter,  I  was  much  with  him 
in  spirit,  among  the  Islands  afar  off — in  prayer 
and  supplication,  that  the  Lord  might  preserve 


LETTERS.  131 

him  in  meekness  and  humility,  and  bless  his 
labours  to  the  gathering  of  thousands  and  tens 
of  thousands  of  the  islanders  into  His  heavenly 
kingdom,  and  that  there  might  be  a  great  and 
good  church  of  true  Quakers  established  among 
the  mingled  people.  I  felt  remarkably  drawn 
to  him  that  night,  and  to  the  people  there. 
May  the  Lord  bless  him  and  tliem,  with  clear 
understanding  of  the  things  of  His  heavenly 
kingdom. 

Sprixgfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  12tli  mo.  10,  1840. 
My  very  dear  friend,  G.  H. : 

It  is  so  long  since  I  have  had  any  informa- 
tion from  thee,  that  although  my  sight  is  very 
dim,  and  it  is  other  ways  dilGScult  for  me  to 
write,  the  desire  I  feel  to  hear  how  thou  and 
thy  dear  family  are  getting  along  through  the 
shifting  scenes  of  this  uncertain  state  of  being, 
and  above  all,  that  your  precioua  souls  may  be 
in  a  state  of  perfect  health  and  soundness,  pre- 
pared to  hear  the  solemn  call,  whether  in  the 
evening,  at  midnight,  cock-crowing,  or  in  the 
morning,  "  Steward,  give  an  account  of  thy 
stewardship,  for  thou  may  est  no  longer  be  stew- 
ard," and  enter  into  a  mansion  in  the  house 
eternal  in  the  heavens,  that  is  not  made  with 


132  MEMOIR    or    NATHAN    HUNT. 

liancls,  prepared  for  all  those  who  do  love  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  more  than  father  or  mother, 
house  or  land,  or  any  earthly  treasure  what- 
ever, that  it  seemed  as  if  I  could  not  restrain 
the  overflowing  feelings  of  my  soul  towards  you 
any  longer,  but  give  them  vent  under  the  influ- 
ence of  that  love  that  breathes  glory  to  God  in 
the  highest,  on  earth  peace,  good-will  towards 
men.  Oh  !  the  sweetness  of  this  pure  stream  of 
love  is  beyond  the  reach  of  language  to  express  ! 
It  surpasses  all  human  understanding  ;  it  is  like 
the  pure  river  of  the  water  of  life  that  John  saw, 
clear  as  crystal,  proceeding  out  of  the  throne  of 
God  and  the  Lamb.  Well  might  the  holy  apostle 
say,  "  Without  controversy  great  is  the  mystery 
of  godliness ;  God  was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  justi- 
fied in  the  Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto 
the  Gentiles,  believed  on  in  the  world,  received 
up  into  glory."  Often  is  my  mind  introduced 
into  deep  consideration  on  the  wonderful  plan 
of  redemption  through  the  atoning  blood  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  How  con- 
spicuously the  love  of  God  is  displayed  to  his 
poor,  erring  creature,  man,  in  this  great  mys- 
tery of  "  God  manifest  in  the  flesh."  Although 
the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  dwelt  in  him  bodily, 
he  for  our  sakes  made  himself  of  no  reputation, 


LETTERS.  133 

took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  was 
made  in  the  likeness  of  men,  and  being  found 
in  fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  himself,  and 
became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of 
the  cross ;  wherefore  God  hath  also  highly  ex- 
alted him,  and  given  him  a  name  which  is  above 
every  name,  that  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every 
knee  should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and 
things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth,  and 
that  every  tongue  should  confess  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 
Let  us  be  humbled,  my  dear  friends,  under  a 
sense  of  the  stupendous  love  of  our  Heavenly 
Father,  in  the  provision  that  he  has  made  for 
us,  that  he  who  was  holy,  harmless,  undefiled, 
and  separate  from  sinners,  higher  than  the 
kings  of  the  earth,  hath  condescended  to  take 
our  iniquities  upon  him,  that  by  his  stripes  we 
might  be  healed,  if  we  will  come  unto  him  in 
all  meekness  and  lowliness  of  mind,  through 
the  highway  of  holiness  that  he  has  opened  for 
us  upon  the  cross. 

Oh,  come,  my  beloved  friends,  father  and 
mother,  sons  and  daughters,  let  us  lay  aside 
every  weight,  and  the  sin  that  doth  so  easily 
beset  us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race 
that  is  set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the 


134  MEMOIll    ur    NATHAN    HUNT. 

author  and  finisher  of  our  faith,  who,  for  the 
joy  that  was  set  before  him,  endured  the  cross, 
despising  the  shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the 
right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God,  to  make  in- 
tercession for  us ;  for  he  knoweth  our  frame, 
he  remembereth  that  w^e  are  dust,  and  like  as  a 
father  pitieth  his  chihlren,  so  the  Lord  pitieth 
them  that  fear  him.  His  tender  compassions 
are  over  his  little  ones,  who  are  sitting  in  soli- 
tary places,  in  the  secret  chambers  of  the  earth, 
pouring  forth  their  sighs  and  tears  in  beholding 
the  many  departures  from  the  ancient,  pure, 
plain,  simple  testimonies  which  were  given  this 
people  to  bear,  against  the  spirit,  fashions,  and 
customs  of  the  world,  that  are  now  greatly  de- 
stroying the  beauty  and  comeliness  of  our  Zion. 
In  many  instances  how  is  the  gold  become  dim, 
and  the  fine  gold  changed !  Thus,  in  latter 
days  it  hath  taken  place  that  those  who  were 
exalted,  and  extolled,  and  stood  very  high  in 
the  esteem  of  many,  have  been  poured  out  as 
the  stones  of  the  sanctuary  in  the  top  of  the 
streets.  And  still  there  seem  to  be  the  work- 
ings of  the  old  leaven,  which  cause  the  travail- 
ing seed  that  is  borne  down  as  a  cart  laden  with 
sheaves,  in  the  hearts  of  the  true  mourners  in 
our  Zion  everywhere,  to  fear  lest  more  of  her 


LETTERS.  135 

precious  sons  should  become  as  earthen  pitchers, 
and  Satan  should  be  permitted  to  sift  this  peo- 
ple again  and  again,  until  the  dregs,  and  dross, 
and  chaff  of  the  spirit  and  fashion  of  this  world 
be  taken  away,  and  a  pure  language  be  return- 
ed unto  them.  Yea,  the  Lord  hath  assuredly 
left  in  the  midst  of  us  an  afflicted  and  poor 
people  that  do  trust  in  him,  and  he  will  not 
leave  them  or  forsake  them  until  he  has  brought 
forth  judgment  unto  truth  over  all  that  is  high 
and  lifted  up  among  this  people,  that  he  raised 
up  to  show  forth  his  praise  on  the  earth ;  and 
his  afflicted  children  shall  return  and  come  unto 
Zion  with  songs  and  everlasting  joy  upon  their 
heads ;  they  shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and 
sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away.  My  dear 
friends,  we  have  much  to  encourage  us  to  be 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  all  our  religious 
duties,  notwithstanding  the  many  hindering 
things  that  are  in  the  way,  for  there  will  be 
Holiness  to  the  Lord  on  the  horses'  bells,  and 
the  pots  in  the  Lord's  house  will  be  like  the 
bowls  before  the  altar.  I  pray  that  the  Lord, 
in  his  inscrutable  wisdom,  may  be  pleased  to 
raise  up  amongst  this  people  many  faithful 
labourers,  like  unto  these  bells,  pots,  and  bowls, 
and  send  them  forth  into  his  harvest-field,  that 


180  MEMOIR   UF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

the  knowledge  of  the  spirituality  and  purity  of 
the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ  may  be  increased  in  the  earth.     *     * 

TO   JONATHAN  AND  HANNAH  C.  BACKHOUSE. 
Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  12th  rao.  22,  1840. 

My  dearly  beloved  Friends : 

I  duly  received  your  truly  acceptable  letter, 
dated  10th  mo.  25,  1840,  also  one  from  my 
nearly  united  yoke-fellow  in  the  Gospel,  H.  C. 
B.,  dated  Liverpool,  29th  of  6th  mo.,  1840.  It 
was  like  cold  flowing  water  to  a  thirsty  soul  to 
hear  from  you  again,  and  to  find  that  you  were 
yet  in  the  land  of  the  living,  as,  from  the  ac- 
counts we  received  sometime  back,  I  thought  it 
was  likely  our  beloved  Jonathan  was  no  more 
in  this  state  of  being,  or  if  he  was,  probably 
he  was  not  capable  of  having  much  enjoyment : 
and  to  hear  he  never  enjoyed  life  more  sweetly, 
was  indeed  truly  comfortable. 

Last  winter,  about  this  time,  I  was  reduced 
very  low.  Sometimes  I  had  no  thought  that  I 
should  live  one  hour,  and  the  comfort  and 
sweetness  I  then  felt  exceeded  anything  I  had 
ever  before  known.  All  seemed  to  be  love, 
peace,  and  joy  unutterable.  The  room  where 
I  was  lying  seemed  to  be  full  of  the  presence 


LETTERS.  137 

of  my  Heavenly  Father,  and  it  appeared  as  if 
angels  and  glorified  spirits  were  round  me, 
and  I  thought  I  should  immediately  be  among 
them.  And  the  love  I  felt  was  like  a  mighty 
stream,  flowing  to  all  the  human  family,  of 
every  nation,  tongue,  kindred,  and  people,  and 
in  an  especial  manner  to  the  travailing  seed 
that  appeared  to  be  borne  down  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people  everywhere,  as  a  cart  laden  with 
sheaves.  But  there  seemed  to  be  a  poor  and 
afilicted  people  almost  in  every  place,  that  were 
weeping  for  the  desolation  of  Zion,  and  they 
were  trusting  in  the  Lord,  and  my  soul  was  and 
is  nearly  united  to  this  little  company,  in  com- 
parison of  the  great  multitude  of  mankind. 
And  methinks  I  can  see  you  walking  in  the 
ranks  of  the  armies  of  the  Lamb,  and  many 
others  with  you  of  my  acquaintance  in  Eng- 
land,— although  sorrowful  to  say,  in  many  in- 
stances both  with  you  and  us,  the  gold  has 
become  dim,  and  the  most  fine  gold  changed. 
The  stones  of  the  sanctuary  are  poured  out  in 
the  top  of  the  street,  and  some  of  the  precious 
stones  of  Zion,  comparable  to  fine  gold,  how 
are  they  esteemed  as  earthen  pitchers  !  But 
after  this  season  of  the  wonderful  dealings  of 
the  Lord  to  one  of  the  poorest  and  most  un- 


138        MEMOIR  OF  NATHAN  HUNT. 

worthy  of  his  creatures,  words  cannot  set  forth 
the  unutterable  woe,  anguish,  and  sorrow  that 
my  blessed  Lord  and  Master  was  pleased  to 
plunge  me  into. 

I  endeavoured  to  convey  a  short  account  of 
it  to  our  mutually  beloved  and  endeared  E.  K., 
which  I  think  it  likely  she  has  communicated 
to  you.  I  think  I  mentioned  to  her  there  were 
several  weeks  that  there  was  not  a  ray  of  hope 
to  be  felt,  but  blessed,  praised,  and  adored  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord  for  ever  and  ever,  when 
it  seemed  as  if  I  was  sinking  fast  down  to  hell, 
he  caused  the  soothing  language  of  Moses  to 
the  children  of  Israel  (when  in  their  deep  dis- 
tress), to  pass  through  my  disconsolate  mind, 
"  Stand  still,  and  see  the  salvation  of  the 
Lord,"  "  The  Egyptians  whom  ye  have  seen 
to-day,  ye  shall  see  them  again  no  more  for 
ever,"  and  a  precious  calm  came  over  my  mind. 
Oh,  how  shall  I  be  thankful  enough  to  the  Lord 
for  his  exceeding  mercy  in  thus  causing  the  hor- 
rors of  the  awful  pit  to  pass  away,  and  the 
light  of  his  sweet  countenance  to  shine  upon 
me  !  As  the  spring  came  on,  and  the  weather 
became  warm,  I  gradually  improved  in  my 
health,  and  my  limbs  gained  strength,  so  that 
I   could  walk  about  comfortably,   and  attend 


LETTERS.  lo9 

meetings,  and  enjoy  the  company  of  my  friends 
through  the  summer  and  autumn.  And,  won- 
derful to  relate,  according  to  the  hope  express- 
ed in  thy  kind  letter,  that  thou  shouldst  hear 
of  my  attending  another  Yearly  Meeting,  so  it 
came  to  pass.  I  was  permitted,  through  the 
tender  mercies  of  my  Heavenly  Father,  to  at- 
tend all  the  sittings  of  our  last  Yearly  Meeting, 
greatly  to  my  edification  and  comfort,  having 
the  great  privilege  of  being  once  more  incorpo- 
rated with  my  dear  brethren  and  sisters  in  the 
militant  church,  when  the  year  before  I  was 
lying  in  a  chamber,  in  the  school-house,  and 
there  was  no  prospect  that  I  would  live  many 
days.  And  I  addressed  the  meeting  on  paper, 
in  a  manner  as  a  dead  man,  but  through  the 
unmerited  mercies  of  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church,  I  was  favoured,  I  humbly  hope,  to  ad- 
dress the  late  Yearly  Meeting  as  a  living  man. 

We  had  very  acceptably  the  company  of  our 
dear  friends,  T.  and  E.  Robson,  whose  labours 
of  love  were  truly  edifying ;  it  was  a  very 
satisfactory  meeting,  and  closed  with  prayer, 
thanksgiving,  and  praise  to  the  Lord. 

A  report  from  the  Committee  that  has  the 
charge  of  our  Boarding  School  concerns,  says 
the  school  is  healthy,  and  going  on  in  harmony 


140  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

and  good  order ;  a  hope  is  expressed  that  it 
would  be  sustained.  Twenty  of  the  scholars 
who  have  been  taught  at  the  school,  have  since 
become  teachers ;  twenty-eight  have  partaken 
of  the  benefits  of  the  charitable  fund,  fourteen 
of  whom  have  been  in  the  school  the  past  year. 
The  average  number  of  scholars  the  past  year 
has  been  forty-two  ;  twenty  males,  and  twenty- 
two  females.  The  deranged  state  of  the  mo- 
neyed concerns  of  our  government  operates  very 
much  against  our  infant  institution  ;  how  we 
shall  get  along  with  it  I  do  not  know.  I  did 
believe  the  beginning  of  it  was  in  pure  wisdom, 
and  still  do — my  trust  is  in  the  Lord — as  the 
earth  and  the  fulness  thereof  are  the  Lord's, 
and  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills  are  his, 
and  the  people  upon  the  earth  are  his  great 
family  ;  and  the  Society  of  Friends  he  raised 
up  in  a  very  peculiar  and  remarkable  manner 
to  show  forth  his  praise,  as  a  band  of  brothers 
united  in  the  promotion  of  the  one  great  cause 
of  glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  on  earth  peace 
and  good  will  to  men.  And  you,  my  dear 
friends,  are  a  striking  example  of  dedication 
to  this  great  and  glorious  cause. 

If  our  dearly  beloved ,  is  with  you,  I 

want  her  to  know,   I  duly  received  her  pre- 


LETTERS.  141 

cious  letter,  dated  at  Stony  Brook,  8th  mo.  3d, 
1840,  and  that  its  contents  were  feelingly  grate- 
ful to  my  best  life.  Her  letters  have  been 
peculiarly  soothing  to  me  in  my  afflictions,  and 
the  heavy  trials  that  my  heavenly  Father  in  his 
inscrutable  wisdom  has  been  pleased  to  visit 
me  with,  that  all  of  the  dregs  and  dross  of 
nature  might  be  purely  purged  away  ;  bless 
and  praise  his  great  and  excellent  name  for  all 
his  dealings  with  me,  but  most  of  all  for  the 
"severe."     My  dear  and  tenderest  love  is  to 

and  with  wherever  she  may  be,  either 

in  heights  or  depths,  or  under  the  shadow  of 
the  mighty  Rock  in  a  weary  land,  may  she  re- 
vive as  the  corn  and  grow  as  the  vine,  and  the 
scent  of  the  dedication  of  her  heart  to  the  Lord 
be  as  the  wine  of  Lebanon  ; — that  the  plant 
that  has  made  its  appearance  in  favour  of  Zion 
may  take  root  downwards  and  bear  a  plentiful 
crop  of  good  fruit  upwards,  is  the  desire  of  my 
soul. 

Our  dear  Thomas  is  now  in  his  usual  health, 
as  my  children  all  are,  and  all  of  them  mani- 
fest a  disposition  to  excel  in  kindness  to  me  ; 
to  anticipate  all  my  wants,  and  relieve  my 
mind  from  care ;  and  I  go  from  one  place  to 
another  among  them  as  often  as  it  is  convenient, 


142  MEMOIR    0¥    NATHAN    HUNT. 

though  my  particular  place  of  residence  is  at 
the  old  homestead  with  Thomas  and  Nancy — 
she  is  like  a  mother  and  daughter  to  me  in  pro- 
viding things  suitable  for  a  poor,  old,  worn-out 
father  ;  as  all  the  rest  are,  when  I  am  with 
them. 

I  have  a  very  interesting  group  of  little 
granddaughters,  Mary  and  Martha  at  Na- 
than's ;  Hannah  B.,  Eliza  K.,  and  Laura  Ade- 
line at  home.  I  think  their  minds  seem  to  be 
rather  of  a  superior  cast  for  their  age,  and  to 
see  them  together  in  their  sportive  gambols  of 
play  is  deeply  interesting;  and  it  is  aifecting 
to  me  to  consider,  if  they  live  a  few  years  they 
will  be  women,  and  to  think  on  what  Job  saith : 
"  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of  a  few  days 
and  full  of  trouble,"  &c.,  it  affects  my  heart 
with  deep  feeling  for  them,  and  a  prayer  arises : 
"  Lord,  preserve  them  through  the  many  hidden 
snares  and  dangers  that  await  them."  Han- 
nah B.  is  of  a  good  size  for  a  child  of  six  years 
old ;  her  eyes  hazel,  her  hair  light ;  she  stands 
erect  and  walks  handsomely.  Eliza  K.  rather 
inclines  to  be  flesh}^,  her  hair  light,  her  eyes 
of  a  sparkling  blue,  her  motion  graceful  and 
dignified  for  a  child  of  little  more  than  four 
years    old.     Laura  Adeline,  about   two  years 


LETTERS.  143 

old,  dark  hair,  black  eyes,  brown  skin,  features 
fine  and  symmetrical  for  a  child  of  her  age. 
Mary  is  rather  slender,  of  a  delicate  frame, 
light  hair,  blue  eyes,  fair  skin,  and  manifests 
as  much  intelligence  as  almost  any  child  of  her 
age.  Martha  is  rather  of  the  short  form,  dark 
hair,  black  eyes,  brown  skin,  handsome  fea- 
tures, and  not  a  whit  behind  any  of  them  in 
point  of  intellect.  I  thought  it  would  not  be 
uninteresting  to  you  to  have  a  little  sketch  of 
my  group  of  little  granddaughters,  that  I  have 
near  me,  and  frequently  round  me,  saying, 
"  This  is  my  dear  grandfather." 

You  are  very  sweetly  and  affectionately  re- 
membered by  many  friends  in  this  part  of  the 
country ;  many  kind  inquiries  made  when  I 
have  heard  from  you,  &c.  John  Carter  and 
family  well ;  his  father  in  a  declining  state  of 
health  ;  his  brother  Isaac  and  wife  had  five 
beautiful  little  daughters — one  of  them  was 
taken  a  few  weeks  since  with  inflammatory 
sore  throat,  and  in  about  two  weeks  they  were 
every  one  laid  in  the  ground,  and  they  bore  it 
with  great  Christian  fortitude. 

It  is  indeed  a  great  satisfaction  to  hear  our 
dearly  beloved  J.  J.  Gurney  has  got  safely 
home  to  his  dear  family  and  friends,  and  enjoy- 


14-1  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

ing  SO  sweetly  the  fruits  of  his  long  and  faithful 
labours  on  our  shores.  May  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  be  commissioned  to  encamp  round  about 
him,  day  and  night,  that  no  evil  may  be  per- 
mitted to  come  near  him.  There  is  no  man 
for  whom  I  feel  a  more  deep  and  sincere  in- 
terest that  nothing  may  mar  his  beauty  and 
comeliness,  and  that  meekness  and  humility 
may  be  his  daily  covering ;  that  his  hands  may 
not  be  wounded  in  the  house  of  his  friends  by 
any  fiery  darts  of  the  enemy.  I  felt  very  near 
unity  with  him  in  his  labours  in  our  part  of  the 
country,  and  intend  writing  to  him  if  I  should 
feel  able.  Give  my  dear  love  to  him,  and  to  his 
sister,  E.  Fry.  My  sight  is  so  dim  I  scarcely 
can  see  letters  when  I  have  made  them,  that 
bad  writing  and  errors  will  be  excused. 

Now  in  closing  this  letter  my  heart  greets 
you  most  feelingly  in  the  bonds  of  the  ever- 
lasting Gospel,  with  desires  that  the  Eternal 
God  may  be  your  refuge  in  heights  and  in 
depths,  and  in  whatever  trials  you  may  have  to 
pass  through  in  this  probationary  state,  till 
you  shall  have  finished  the  work  he  has  as- 
signed to  you  in  this  lower  world,  and  that 
finally  he  may  receive  your  purified  spirits  into 
eternal  rest  with  the  great  multitude  that  have 


LETTERS.  145 

gone  before,  and  where  I  hope  to  unite  with 
you  in  due  time.  In  much  nearness  of  feeling 
and  unitv  of  spirit,  in  which  my  dear  children 
join  in  love  to  you,  your  dear  mother,  and 
your  children  and  our  beloved  E.  K., 
Your  affectionate  friend, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  4th  mo.  30,  1841. 
My  near  and  dearly  beloved  friend  G.  H. : 

I  received  thy  very  acceptable  letter,  dated 
the  11th  inst.,  day  before  yesterday;  it  was 
indeed  like  cold  flowing  water  to  a  thirsty  soul, 
for  I  had  been  for  some  time  desiring  to  hear 
from  thee  in  a  two-fold  sense ;  first,  from  the 
deep  concern  I  feel  for  the  eternal  well-being 
of  thyself  and  family,  and  above  all  things  that 
you  may  be  in  spiritual  health,  growing  from 
stature  to  stature,  till  you  arrive  to  that  of  full 
men  and  women  in  Christ ;  and  though  you, 
like  the  children  of  the  Lord  formerly,  do  not 
feel  free  to  partake  of  the  luxuries  of  the  wines 
and  meats  of  this  uncertain  and  ever-failing 
world,  but  partake  freely  of  the  simple,  plain 
pulse  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  drink  freely 
of  the  pure  river  of  the  water  of  life,  it  will 
make    your   countenances    appear   fairer   and 

10 


146  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

fatter  in  flesh  than  all  who  do  indulge  in  the 
grace  of  the  fashion  of  this  world,  which  destroys 
the  beautiful  image  that  God  made  man  in — a 
little  lower  than  the  angels,  and  crowned  him 
with  glory  and  honour,  and  set  him  over  the 
works  of  his  hands.  How  exceedingly  neces- 
sary is  it  that  man  should  maintain  the  dignity 
of  the  station  that  his  Maker  designed  him  to 
fill ;  having  a  pure  principle  placed  within  him 
that  comes  from  God,  and  is  always  near  in 
every  time  of  trial  to  point  out  the  way  in  which 
we  should  go,  if  we  are  still  enough  to  hear  it ; 
saying  intelligibly  in  the  ear  of  the  soul,  "  this 
is  the  way,  walk  in  it."  What  encouragement 
to  us,  seeing  we  are  furnished  with  such  an  in- 
fallible guide,  to  continue  patient  in  the  way 
of  well-doing;  seeking  glory  and  honour,  im- 
mortality and  eternal  life.  This  is  the  blessed 
reward  of  faithful  obedience  to  the  pure  and 
holy  teacher  within,  which  leads  to  the  rivers 
of  pleasure  that  are  at  God's  right  hand  for 
ever  more ;  where  the  cheerful  followers  of  the 
Lamb  wheresoever  he  goeth  may  drink  and  be 
refreshed. 

My  dear  G.  and  S.,  I  greatly  desire  you  may 
lift  up  your  heads  in  hope,  for  I  believe  the  day 
of  your  redemption  is  drawing  near,  though  you 


LETTERS.  147 

may  live  to  see  many  days,  and  pass  through 
many  deep  dippings  and  strippings  for  the  pure 
testimony's  sake,  which  I  believe  feels  at  times 
dearer  to  you  than  your  natural  lives,  and  you 
mourn  in  seeing  and  hearing  of  the  rents  and 
divisions  that  the  boar  of  the  woods  has  made 
and  is  making  in  our  Israel,  and  spoiling  the 
beautiful  garment  that  this  people  once  had  on, 
the  covering  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth;  and  as 
you  abide  faithful  in  your  allotted  portion  of 
labour,  both  spiritual  and  temporal,  the  language 
will  apply  to  you,  as  the  odour  of  the  sweet 
ointment  filled  the  room — ''  Let  her  alone,  she 
hath  done  what  she  could." 

In  reading  thy  interesting  letter,  you  never 
were  brought  more  preciously  near  and  dear  to 
my  feelings ;  it  savoured  so  much  of  the  right 
disposition  of  mind,  only  I  felt  a  little  fear  lest 
thou  shouldest  sometimes  be  too  much  discour- 
aged under  the  manifold  engagements  and  cares 
which  have  fallen  to  thy  lot  to  be  occupied  in 
and  with.  I  believe  thou  art  in  the  line  of  thy 
duty,  and  very  extensively  useful  to  the  com- 
munity at  large  ;  and  methinks  I  see  thee  in  the 
more  secret  walk  of  life,  privately  reaching  out 
thy  hand  to  the  poor,  and  causing  many  hearts 
to  leap  for  joy ;  and  thou  walkest  amidst  the 


148  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

blessings  of  the  poor  of  this  world,  and  hast 
thj  pathway  among  the  poor  in  spirit  who  are 
placed  on  the  high  ground  of  ''  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  I  desire  thou  and  thy  dear  wife  may 
lift  up  your  heads  in  hope,  for  the  Lord  sees 
your  works — that  the  last  is  more  than  the  first ; 
that  there  is  an  increase  of  concern  in  your 
minds  to  do  the  w^ll  of  our  Father  in  heaven. 
It  was  very  pleasant  to  me  to  hear  of  thy  dear 
wife  being  out  on  religious  service.  I  am  sure 
it  would  be  a  most  interesting  thing  to  me  if  I 
should  live,  and  my  great  and  good  Master 
(whom  I  desire  to  serve  with  all  my  heart,  every 
moment  of  my  life)  should  order  it  so  as  to 
have  your  company  at  our  next  Yearly  Meeting ; 
and  then  you  could  see  and  feel  for  yourselves 
how  things  are  among  us,  and  that  is  better  than 
hearsay  from  anybody ;  for  seeing  is  believing, 
and  feeling  under  Divine  influence  is  the  naked 
truth.  I  feel  such  a  sweet  freedom  in  writing 
to  you,  that  it  seems  as  if  I  was  present  with 
you,  talking  face  to  face. 

Springfield,  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C,  4th  mo.  11,  1842. 
My  dearly  beloved  friend  Joseph  John  Gurney : 
I  duly  received  thy  truly  acceptable  letter 
dated  6th  mo.  29,  1841,  bringing  intelligence 


LETTERS.  149 

on  various  interesting  subjects ;  but  the  most 
consoling  and  comforting  of  all  was,  to  hear  of 
thy  safe  arrival  at  home,  and  being  again  per- 
mitted through  the  mercies  of  Him  that  loved 
us  and  gave  Himself  for  us,  to  embrace  thy  dear 
children  in  the  bonds  of  parental  affection,  and 
mingle  with  thy  beloved  connexions  and  long- 
tried  friends,  after  such  a  long  and  perilous 
absence  on  sea  and  land,  in  the  wilderness  and 
among  the  cultivated  fields,  in  heights  and  in 
depths ;  oft  surrounded  by  difficulties  and 
dangers  on  every  hand.  Methought  I  saw  thee 
sometimes  hanging  high  on  the  broken  wave, 
and  an  awful  chasm  beneath  to  swallow  up  the 
little  bark ;  but  midst  the  strife  of  elements, 
in  all,  through  all,  and  over  all,  my  soul  clave 
unto  thee,  and  the  mandate  went  forth,  "  Peace, 
be  still,"  and  a  great  calm  has  taken  place,  and 
thou,  with  thy  dearest  earthly  treasure,  seemest 
to  me  to  be  standing  as  in  the  entering  in  of  the 
cave,  waiting  to  hear  the  still  small  voice,  which, 
if  faithfully  attended  to,  will  lead  on  to  victory 
over  death,  hell,  and  the  grave.  This,  I  believe, 
you  have  measurably  experienced,  and  will  fully 
do  so  in  due  time,  to  your  everlasting  comfort 
and  consolation.  Be  assured,  you  had  my  most 
cordial  approval  in  your  union.     I  feel  some- 


150  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

times  as  if  I  was  participating  with  you  in  the 
sweet  enjoyment  that  is  now  permitted  you. 
And  may  you,  my  beloved  children,  not  be  too 
much  taken  up  with  the  gift,  and  neglect  the 
Giver,  who  lends  His  blessings  and  withdraws 
them  from  us  at  His  pleasure ;  all  that  we  have 
and  all  that  we  are  is  under  His  control ;  we  are 
only  stewards  over  His  manifold  gifts  and  graces 
that  He  is  pleased  to  bestow  upon  us,  and  for 
which  we  are  accountable  ;  and  blessed  are  those 
servants  who  are  ready  for  settlement  when  He 
cometh.  It  seems  as  if  I  was  present  with  you 
beholding  the  order  of  your  family,  &c.  May 
He  who  united  you  together,  still  be  with  you 
and  make  you  fruitful  in  the  field  of  offering, 
and  joyful  in  the  house  of  prayer.  The  last 
accounts  we  have  from  England  are  from  Josiah 
Forster,  giving  me  privilege  to  draw  on  thy 
brother,  Samuel  Gurney,  in  London,  for  .£600 
sterling,  your  kind  donation  for  the  relief  of 
our  boarding-school  from  its  embarrassed  situa- 
tion. It  is  most  thankfully  and  gratefully 
received,  for  without  it,  it  does  seem  to  me,  we 
could  not  continue  the  school ;  and  to  give  it  up 
would  be  a  very  trying  thing  to  some  of  us.  It 
is  now  going  on  in  as  quiet,  consistent  a  manner 
as  at  any  time  since  its  commencement,  with 


LETTERS.  151 

thirty  pupils ;  and  I  believe  from  late  impres- 
sions on  mj  mind  respecting  it,  it  will  succeed 
and  be  a  valuable  institution  to  the  members  of 
our  Yearly  Meeting. 

My  health  has  been  so  delicate  for  some  time 
past,  that  it  is  difficult  for  me  to  go  about  much. 
I  have  generally  been  able  to  attend  meetings 
at  home,  and  never  felt  greater  love  to  Friends, 
nor  a  deeper  interest  in  the  concerns  of  Society, 
and  for  the  maintenance  of  its  various  and  pe- 
culiar testimonies,  believing  it  never  has  been 
more  needful  since  we  have  been  the  peculiar 
people  that  the  Lord  hath  required  us  to  be, 
for  us  to  keep  close  to  our  principles,  and  as 
clear  and  free  from  the  spirit  and  friendship  of 
the  world  as  possible.  It  is  a  time  of  great 
religious  and  political  excitement — party  spirit 
running  high,  and  things  outw^ard  appearing 
gloomy — that  it  seems  to  me  that  the  signs  of 
the  times  proclaim,  "To  thy  tents,  oh  Israel." 
God  is  thy  tent,  or  refuge,  and  underneath  are 
the  everlasting  arms,  and  he  shall  thrust  out 
the  enemy  from  before  thee,  and  shall  say,  ''  De- 
stroy them."  "  Israel  then  shall  dwell  in  safety 
alone ;  the  foundation  of  Jacob  shall  be  upon 
a  land  of  corn  and  wine ;  also  his  heavens  shall 
drop  down  dew.     Happy  art  thou,  oh  !  Israel, 


152  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

who  is  like  unto  thee  ?  A  people  saved  by  the 
Lord,  the  shield  of  thy  help,  and  who  is  the 
sword  of  thy  excellency ;  and  thy  enemies  shall 
be  found  liars  unto  thee,  and  thou  shalt  tread 
upon  their  high  places."  I  believe  our  safety 
depends  much  in  keeping  near  the  Captain  of 
our  soul's  salvation,  who  never  was  foiled  in 
battle,  that  so  we  may  not  be  caught  in  any  of 
the  wiles  nor  glossy  snares  of  his  and  our  enemy. 
My  prayers  are  frequent  and  earnest  for  Friends 
everywhere,  and  especially  in  England,  that 
they  may  be  kept  down  to  the  root  of  life, 
which  is  able  to  bear  the  cross  with  becoming 
dignity.  I  mention  England,  because  there 
this  remarkable  people  first  raised  the  standard 
of  truth  with  the  Star  of  Bethlehem  upon  it, 
and  may  it  never  be  lowered  by  their  descend- 
ants in  that  nation  in  any  respect.  It  seems  to 
me  there  is  a  day  of  sifting  coming  in  our  So- 
ciety, wherein  the  pure  wheat  will  be  more 
separated  from  the  chaff  than  it  has  been  for 
many  years  past.  May  the  priests,  the  minis- 
ters of  the  Lord  everywhere  among  us,  have, 
and  keep  on,  the  Thummim  and  Urim,  breast- 
plate and  girdle,  having  the  bell  and  pomegra- 
nate round  about  their  borders,  for  the  sound 
of  the  bell,  without  the  sweet  scent  and  savour 


LETTERS.  153 

of  the  pomegranate,  Avill  avail  nothing,  but  be 
like  the  soundino;  brass  and  tinklino;  cymbal. 

Be  ye,  therefore,  followers  of  God  as  dear 
children,  walking  in  love,  as  I  am  persuaded 
jou  will  do,  for  Christ's  sake. 

Our  dear  little  girls,  Hannah  B.  and  Eliza 
K.,  are  fine,  healthy,  active  children.  My 
children  are  in  usual  health,  and  those  who  are 
present  unite  with  me  in  dear  love  to  you  and 
yours. 

Your  closely  attached  friend  and  brother  in 
tribulation,  in  heights  and  depths, 

Nathan  Hunt. 

P.  S. — My  dear  love  to  thy  brother  Samuel 
and  family,  dear  sister  Fry  and  hers.  My  near 
sympathy  awaits  our  mutually  endeared  J. 
Backhouse,  and  his  beloved  wife  and  children 
in  their  afiliction.  My  love  to  William  Allen, 
P.  Bedford,  Josiah  and  Robert  Forster,  and 
friends  generally,  for  I  love  them  all  that  love 
the  Lord  Jesus  in  truth  and  sincerity.  Do 
please  one  of  you  write  soon,  and  give  particu- 
lar information  about  things  in  England,  for  I 
am  interested  in  all  that  concerns  Friends  there. 


154  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

TO  E.  P.  G. 

Springfield,  7th  mo.  1,  1845. 
Dear  friend : 

Partly  from  a  willingness  on  my  own  part  to 
correspond  with  thee,  and  partly  at  the  request 
of  thy  friend,  my  dear  aged  father,  I  sit  down 
to  write  to  thee.  I  cannot  recollect  the  many 
messages  he  charged  me  with  before  he  left  (he 
is  now  staying  a  few  weeks  at  the  school  with 
sister  Stanley),  but  he  wished  mq,  to  acknow- 
ledge thy  very  welcome  letter,  and  "  give  my 
dear  love  to  her,  and  tell  her  I  never  expect  to 
be  able  to  write  again  to  anybody.  Oh,  if  I 
could  see  to  write  to  Eliza — dear  child!"  His 
sight  has  so  failed  that  he  can  only  read  large, 
clear  print,  and  but  little  at  a  time.  He  is  very 
feeble,  and  has  pretty  much  given  up  walking, 
but  sometimes  he  will  take  a  staff  in  each  hand, 
and  set  off.  I  have  changed  the  road,  so  as  to 
go  nearly  straight  from  our  door  to  the  meet- 
ing-house, which  lessens  the  distance.  His  ap- 
petite is  good,  and  he  sleeps  sound.  He  is 
much  attached  to  home.  His  friends  see  and 
admit  there  is  a  failure  in  his  memory,  but  in 
the  exercise  of  his  gift  in  the  ministry,  it  is 
surprising  how  bright  and  lively  he  is,  and  with 
what  aptness  he  quotes  the  Scriptures. 


LETTERS.  155 

With  much  love  from  us,  I  am  thy  sincere 
friend, 

Thomas  T.  Hunt. 

At  a  later  date  he  says,  ^'  Through  the  ten- 
der mercy  of  my  God,  I  have  enjoyed  great 
quietness  and  peace  of  mind  for  some  weeks 
past,  and  I  desire  to  lie  low  before  Him,  and  to 
walk  softly  all  the  days  of  my  life." 

Thus  did  this  venerable  pilgrim  journey  on, 
seeking  a  better  country,  and  though  many 
w^ere  the  tribulations  he  had  to  pass  through, 
yet  his  resigned  and  patient  spirit  seemed  to 
breathe  the  language,  "  None  of  these  things 
move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto 
myself,  that  I  might  finish  my  course  with  joy, 
and  the  ministry  which  I  have  received  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  Gospel  of  the  grace 
of  God." 

A  friend,  who  visited  him  for  the  first  time 
a  few  months  before  his  decease,  observed,  that 
she  had  never  been  sensible  of  the  same  pre- 
cious covering  of  deep  solemnity,  as  during  a 
religious  opportunity  which  occurred  under  his 
roof,  when  he  commended  them  all,  with  his 
own  soul,  to  that  God  he  had  so  faithfully 
served.     His  prayers  and  his  praises  seemed  to 


156  MEMOIR   OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

ascend  as  spiritual  sacrifices  from  the  altar  of 
his  dedicated  heart  before  the  throne,  and  the 
odour  of  the  incense  filled  the  room. 

His  memory  gradually  failed  him,  and  his 
bodily  powers  were  greatly  impaired,  but  he 
continued  alive  in  the  truth  to  the  latest  period 
of  his  existence ;  and  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-five,  as  falls  the  ripe  corn  in  its  season, 
he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  And  through  the  riches 
of  redeeming  mercy  his  ransomed  spirit  is,  we 
cannot  doubt,  united  to  that  glorious  company 
who,  with  the  palms  of  victory  in  their  hands, 
are  singing  the  new  song  which  none  can  sing 
but  those  who  have  the  Father's  name  written 
upon  their  foreheads. 


ADDENDA.  157 


ADDENDA. 

The  publishers  of  these  memoh-s  deem  the 
following  extracts  from  the  diary  of  William 
Allen,  recorded  at  various  times,  relative  to 
Nathan  Hunt,  may  not  be  without  interest  to 
the  reader.  For  the  information  of  those  un- 
acquainted with  the  character  of  William  Allen, 
they  will  merely  remark,  he  was  an  approved 
minister  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  distin- 
guished for  his  scientific  attainments,  sterling 
integrity,  discretion,  prudence,  and  practical 
benevolence. 

"When  greatly  enfeebled,  he  several  times 
expressed  the  comfort  he  felt  in  having  such  a 
quiet  retreat  as  Lindfield,  in  passing  away,  and 
acknowledged  with  thankfulness  the  blessings 
which  the  Lord  had  provided  for  him.  The 
patient  submission  with  which  he  bore  the  trials 
of  a  long  illness,  was  an  instructive  lesson  to 
those  around  him :  no  murmur  ever  escaped  his 
lips,  and  his  fervent  petition  to  be  kept  unto 


158  MEMOIR    OF    NATHAN    HUNT. 

the  end  was  mercifully  granted.  In  him  the 
experience  of  the  Psalmist  was  strikingly  real- 
ized ;  '  My  flesh  and  my  heart  faileth ;  but  God 
is  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for 
ever.' 

"  His  redeemed  spirit  was  gently  released  on 
the  30th  of  12th  month,  1843.  At  that  solemn 
moment  the  calming  influence  of  the  blessed 
hope  of  the  Gospel  was  sensibly  felt ;  and  in  the 
humble  trust  that  through  the  mercy  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus,  he  had  received  the  end  of  his 
faith,  even  the  salvation  of  his  soul,  the  language 
of  grateful  adoration  arose,  '  Unto  Him  that 
loved  us  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own 
blood,  to  Him  be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever 
and  ever !  Amen.'  "  He  was  seventy-three 
years  of  age  ;  a  minister  about  twenty-five  years. 

"  William  Allen  mentions  calling  at  John 
Rowe's  to  see  Nathan  Hunt,  from  North  Caro- 
lina, and  afterwards  speaks  of  him  as  a  very 
remarkable  minister.  He  attended  several  meet- 
ings, appointed  at  the  request  of  N.  H.,  both 
for  different  classes  of  our  own  members,  and 
for  persons  not  in  religious  profession  with  us. 
He  also  accompanied  him  to  Rochester,  and 
appeared  to  derive  satisfaction  and  comfort 
from  the  labours  of  this  dear  Friend,  on  various 


ADDENDA.  l59 

occasions.  In  alluding  to  the  ministry  of  Nathan 
Hunt,  in  the  meeting  for  discipline,  in  the  morn- 
ing, William  Allen  describes  it  as  very  powerful, 
and  adds  :  It  seemed  to  make  a  great  impression. 
He  compared  the  enemy  of  souls  to  a  spider, 
who  first  wound  his  web  around  one  leg  of  his 
prey,  and  then  went  away,  and  returning  again, 
seized  upon  another,  thus  pursuing  his  victim 
until  it  was  completely  powerless,  and  then  he 
poisoned  him.  He  quoted  some  passages  from 
the  Proverbs,  and  addressed  the  young  men 
with  great  energy.  Many  were  affected,  and  I 
think  his  communication  will  be  long  remem- 
bered. The  Select  Yearly  Meeting  was  held  in 
the  afternoon.  There  was  a  solemn  feeling  on 
first  sitting  down.  After  the  business  was  con- 
cluded, I  felt  that  it  might  be  required  of  me  to 
offer  up  prayer  for  the  aged,  both  absent  and 
present,  and  also  for  those  who  were  going  out 
in  the  service  of  the  Gospel,  but  after  some  time 
the  concern  seemed  laid  upon  dear  Nathan 
Hunt,  who  in  a  remarkable  manner  expressed 
all  that  was  upon  my  mind,  and  much  more. 
Nathan  Hunt,  Huldah  Sears,  and  many  other 
Friends  dined  with  us.  After  dinner  we  had  a 
time  of  religious  retirement,  in  which  my  spirit 
was  refreshed.     N.  H.  spoke  on  the  text,  '  To 


160  MEMOIR   OF   NATHAN    HUNT. 

do  good,  and  to  communicate  forget  not,  for 
with  such  sacrifices  God  is  well  pleased,'  dwell- 
ing much  uipon  forget  not." 

In  conclusion,  the  publishers  believe  by  atten- 
tion to  the  intimation  of  forget  not  on  the  mind 
of  a  dearly  beloved  friend  of  N.  H.,  whilst  on 
a  religious  visit  to  America  from  a  distant  land, 
the  numerous  relatives  and  others,  are  indebted 
for  this  brief  memoir, — indeed,  it  may  be  in 
truth  said  of  his  father's  memoir  also,  for  the 
thought  of  the  one,  was  the  cause  of  the  thought 
of  the  other. 

"  Her  labours  in  America  were  very  abundant, 
and  there  is  reason  to  believe  blessed  to  very 
many.  During  the  five  years  she  spent  on  that 
continent,  she  visited  the  greater  part  of  the 
meetings  of  Friends,  and  in  doing  so,  shrank 
from  no  hardship  or  privation  consequent  upon 
traveling  in  districts  recently  settled." 


THE  END. 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 


0021074348 


